Quote:
Originally Posted by kerry edwards
I'm not arguing the value of practicality over learning for its own sake.
You don't find tens of thousands of students struggling semester after semester to fulfill a History, Philosophy or Sociology requirement. You don't even see it in the hard sciences.
There's something different about Math. Is this difference worth modifying its role in the curriculum?
I suspect that Math is somehow hard wired in the brain in a manner similar to the way in which language is hard wired although the differences in the quality of wiring differs more with Math than with language.
There are millions of dollars being spent in higher education on remedial classes necessary to get students through their college alegbra course. Would this money be better spent on higher level math courses for students who actually want to study Math?
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I agree.
Obviously a grasp of basic math and geometry concepts benefits EVERYONE... You need to be able to balance your checkbook, do your taxes, count change... and at least have enough of a grasp of geometry to be able to fit a few boxes or pieces of luggage into the trunk of your Mercedes...
But for someone who is not going into advanced engineering, programming, or other highly technical fields... Is highly advanced knowledge of calculus, trig, etc. really of any use to them? It certainly has not been of any practical use in my life.
For many students, I think that the time and effort that is too often spent pointlessly beating such subjects to death could be put to much better use.
Mike