Algebra Necessary Andrew Hacker Summary

I believe that the teaching and learning of Algebra and Geometry in high school are of most importance and is some of the most important knowledge you can obtain throughout your life. For the majority of people, math is seen as an unnecessary roadblock in their education. After all, barely anyone in the real world uses math like Algebra and Geometry in their daily life, so why should we bother teaching it. I would argue saying that even if you never use this math ever again in your life, and all it was to you in high school was a failing grade, it still helped you in ways you don't notice. Most students in high school these days see no reason that they are being taught Algebra and Geometry. They say that they will never use the knowledge they are being taught every again outside of the classroom and in the real world. Most of these people are right though, they will never have to use the skills that they are being taught in high school math ever again. These students see this point and agree …show more content…
(Andrew Hacker), I can start to dissect his argument. The first thing many others and I noticed when reading his article is the clear lack of understanding he has about the topic he is writing about, specifically the mathematical topics he mentions. “He is simply wrong about his first example. There is a good reason to study both polynomial functions and equations (parametric or otherwise), provided it is done properly”(Dr. Keith Devlin.) Hacker also mentioned a term called vectorial angle which isn't even part of most curriculums. Another problem many people have found out about Hacker is that he is not very well educated on the topic of math not even close to what would be considered a mathematician, which is the type of person I would expect to write such an article on this subject. I don't have any issues with Hacker, he clearly just wants to share his opinion but I don't see it a being in the best interest of