Economy
In reply to the discussion: Weekend Economists Ride With Sally into the Sunset July 27-29, 2012 [View all]Demeter
(85,373 posts)WHY DON'T WE ASK SALLY? IF YOU NEVER WANT TO GET BEYOND SUBSISTENCE--BASIC AGRICULTURE OR HUNTING, NO, ALGEBRA IS NOT NECESSARY. FOR ANYTHING ELSE: YES, IT IS.
IF ONE CANNOT DO ALGEBRA, WELL, THERE'S ANYTHING PRE-ROMAN THAT YOU CAN DO. THE EGYPTIANS EVEN PRACTICED A PRACTICAL FORM OF ALGEBRA TO BUILD THEIR PYRAMIDS. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS QUESTION IS RAISED IN SERIOUS CONVERSATION.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/opinion/sunday/is-algebra-necessary.html
THE COMMENTARY IS FULL OF GOOD SCORN.
IF THE AUTHOR WANTED TO DISCUSS THE ABUSE OF STUDENTS BY OUR TEST-BASED EDUCATION MILLS, THAT'S ONE THING. BUT TO BLAME IT ALL ON ALGEBRA? THAT'S CRAZY THINKING, SCAPEGOATING, AND IGNORING THE PROCESS THAT GOT US TO THIS POINT. IT'S CUTTING OFF THE NOSE TO SPITE THE FACE.
THIS IS A "POLITICAL SCIENCE" IVORY-TOWER ACADEMIC, THINKING UP NEW WAYS TO DUMB DOWN THE POPULACE.