Math question Options

[James]

See poll. Feel free to discuss if you want, but I'm curious to what responses I'll get.

The basis of this question comes from a book I'm reading, "How Mathematics Happened," and in particular, this paragraph:

In ancient Greece, mathematics was a respected subject. Now it is the most detested of school subjects. What did the Greeks do in mathematical education that we are not doing today?

...

Greek schooling was limited to reading, writing, rhetoric, music, and athletics. After completion of schooling, a man could add to his education by listening to lectures given by wandering scholars called Sophists. If he specifically wanted to learn mathematics, he listened to a Sophist who lectured about mathematics. Mathematics was an elective for the mature. Arithmetic ability was not necessary for the educated Greek; he had slaves to do his menial mental as well as physical labor. Today's more human equivalent of the slave is the electronic calculator.

I suppose the same idea would apply to science.

This post has been edited by Spectatrix: Jun 12 2007, 12:58 PM

[James]

How do I edit my poll? I want to make "Nothing" be "Nothing, less school"

[Spectatrix]

I changed it for you.

[Spectatrix]

The only thing I ever hated about math was the damn busy work. Once I got into college and it was less busy work, more learning new stuff, I loved it. However, if it were to be replaced, I'd replace it with some kind of technology instruction -- programming, for instance.

[cmac]

i loved math. i still loved math.
math should not be replaced.
it should be required.
i've met college students that can't multiply simple numbers.
pathetic.

[Divergent Realit...]

hmm. my answer was changed, after you changed the 'nothing' to 'nothing, less school'

you suck.

[Mommy]

I like math. I dont want it replaced

[pebkac]

Much as I hate math, I don't think you can make it an totally an elective. Now I would agree with reducing the amount of math required and replacing it with more technology courses.

BTW, what grade level are we talking about here?

[impala454]

I personally enjoyed math, but at the most basic level, I think kids should at least be able to do basic algebra and geometry before they're allowed to graduate high school (which is how it is now right?)

one thing I think is extremely important is math application. if you don't show kids reasonable applications, it won't interest them. if it doesn't interest them, they won't learn it. I think some of my most kumbaya moments in math was seeing calculus & differential equations stuff applied to physics & circuits. really interesting stuff imho.

[James]

The math I'm referring to and that I think the author is referring to is all math. I realize that would be extreme. I question the applicability of Algebra, Trigonometry, and Geometry to the average citizen. How many of the engineering and science majors had to relearn the math when they got to that point? How many business majors calculate interest earned by hand? Few to none is the answer I expect.

Then there's the problem that you have Algebra and then you have Algebra. What's the point in rote memorization of addition and multiplication tables? It doesn't make you a better person and it doesn't make you smarter.

Ugh...watch out folks. I'm gonna be teaching your kids mathematics soon.

[TetraGrammaton C...]

math is only effective when coupled with sodomy

[kcroxyoursox]

There should be an option "If it were an elective, I wouldn't know how I feel, because I would have elected not to take it."

I like math when it's something I can do with a four function calculator. The same stuff that if I wasn't so damn lazy I could figure out myself. The math that means something (making change at a part-time job, figuring out how much food to order for an office meeting, etc.)

Honestly, there are so many careers out there that don't involve math. I'm glad I caught onto all the math I had to take if only to help my average. I'm also glad I have a solid base for if I did decide to chage careers and needed more schooling.

I don't think programming should replace math. The year of JAVA I took was the biggest waste of my life and my time. The only thing I even remotely remember is when we did binary math, which didn't even involve using the computers. If I saw my teacher today and he asked me, I would tell him to his face that I cheated almost the entire semester when it came to writing programs. And that's not like me or my work ethic or my attitude towards learning (evidenced by many examples, inquire within for specifics) but it is and was an utter waste of my time. [Sorry to you nerds who all went on to use programming for something applicable to your lives.]

[Seeker]

This is a question about Math not a Math question.

Buried for inaccurate title.

[James]

There should be an option "If it were an elective, I wouldn't know how I feel, because I would have elected not to take it."

I like math when it's something I can do with a four function calculator. The same stuff that if I wasn't so damn lazy I could figure out myself. The math that means something (making change at a part-time job, figuring out how much food to order for an office meeting, etc.)

Honestly, there are so many careers out there that don't involve math. I'm glad I caught onto all the math I had to take if only to help my average. I'm also glad I have a solid base for if I did decide to chage careers and needed more schooling.

I don't think programming should replace math. The year of JAVA I took was the biggest waste of my life and my time. The only thing I even remotely remember is when we did binary math, which didn't even involve using the computers. If I saw my teacher today and he asked me, I would tell him to his face that I cheated almost the entire semester when it came to writing programs. And that's not like me or my work ethic or my attitude towards learning (evidenced by many examples, inquire within for specifics) but it is and was an utter waste of my time. [Sorry to you nerds who all went on to use programming for something applicable to your lives.]

Yeah, this is a very good example of what happens when people are forced to take classes they dislike. Everything is so high stakes in education, so they usually resort to cheating, take nothing or almost nothing from the course, and inhibit their peers.

Also, I think "If it were an elective, I wouldn't know how I feel, because I would have elected not to take it." and the one about hating it before and after are the same. I guess the poll is unfair though. How can we know how we'd feel about something like that after all these years of being forced to do it? Art was an elective and I enjoyed it, but music was an elective and I never even tried it. Neither was extrinsically forced or encouraged.

[James]

This is a question about Math not a Math question.

Buried for inaccurate title.

No, it's a math question. More specifically, a math education question.