Thread: Algebra Text?
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T[_2_] T[_2_] is offline
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Default Algebra Text?

In article ,
says...

Yes, you are quite the logician and debating expert too. How about you
stick to the subjects you know something about or at least have an open
mind about learning something new?


I've followed this thread for a while and I'm struck by your strident
support for teachers and teaching.

You seem to suggest that we mere mortals can't understand teaching
despite being educated in grade school, high school, college, and
graduate school. And, despite having children and grandchildren go
through the same process.

Consider these facts about teaching and teachers:

* As a group, teaching majors have the lowest SAT scores

* Schools of education are regarded as the dregs of universities'
schools


I've met a number of teachers - some of whom shouldn't even be in the
classroom. One of the more eye opening things I ever did was do program
reviews in area public high schools.

One of the classes was teaching the kids how do use the MS Office suite.
The day we were reviewing they were doing a payroll spreadsheet and I
noted they all had a cheat sheet for the tax on earnings.

I asked the teacher if they intended to teach the kids how to use VBA.
With VBA you could just write code to get it to calculate the tax.

The teachers response was that you needed advanced math to be able to
program a computer.

So on my review notes I said that the most math you might need is the
first few weeks of Algebra I. Apparently this caused great consternation
in the school. Good - anything that rocks them out of their little
comfort zone is a good thing.

Of course it also serves as a lesson, never invite an I.T. type to do
program reviews.