Dive Brief:
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In a new chapter in the debate over whether algebra should be required learning, experts defend the discipline as balanced, logical learning that will suit students well in future pursuits, even if they never need to use the quadratic equation.
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Darren Glass argued for The Philadelphia Inquirer that the use of algebra teaches students to solve "many problems simultaneously without doing substantially more work," which trains students to think more efficiently about the tasks at hand.
- Glass concedes that an overemphasis on standardized testing "has led to an increased emphasis on memorization over conceptual understanding," which has diluted the effectiveness of algebraic thinking.
Dive Insight:
The debate over the necessity of algebra in schools stems from the idea that many students drop out of school over algebra requirements, which some argue are unnecessarily convoluted.
But as Glass argues, the issue lies with the execution of math education, not with the concepts. If a need to perform well on standardized tests has diverted algebra education to merely the memorization of "arcane definitions and complicated formulas" instead of "problem-solving skills, copious applications" of logical thinking, the way the course is taught needs to be re-evaluated, not its overall necessity.
The national attention has turned to coding education as a way to fill voids in logical, computational thinking for students, but this cannot supplant the need to improve teaching for mastery in the way standard subjects are already taught.
Whether algebra or another subject, districts must find a way to reconcile the need to measure progress with ensuring students are actually progressing.