Unless they are studying to be an Algebra teacher, the most commonly asked question of students is “Why do I have to take Algebra?” The easy answer is because the college requires students to take the class to finish the degree. In answering a student in that manner, their outlook often becomes worse. The students are asking the question because they really do not understand the need to take a class that often combines letters and numbers together. “I have been out of school for ten or twenty years and I have not used Algebra a single time.” While often an untrue statement, most jobs do not require that an employee know the square root of 64 or require the completion of equations on a daily basis. Whatever job acquired will provide job-specific training so why do students have to take Algebra?

Algebra is not an easy course, at least for the majority of students I have taken class with or tutored on the subject. I have personally sat with students who stare at the problem they just correctly completed as if it were Greek all the while saying I do not understand! It is so easy to get overwhelmed and/or left behind in Algebra because a lot of teachers do not teach the MOST IMPORTANT thing about it.

Algebra is a series of concepts built to be understood in chronological order. Students must master the basic concepts to build the foundation. This foundation will then be built upon to expand their Algebraic knowledge. However, if the student/teacher relationship fails to appropriately teach the basic concepts, the student will have no foundation on which to build larger and more complex Algebraic or mathematical skills. This is also how Algebra applies to life.

While jobs and the need for specific skill-sets may change over time, mathematics will not. Fifty years from now, four plus four will still equal eight, and quadratics will still be either factorable or prime. The primary goal of Algebra is that the student must be able to look at a concept and know how to find the end result. Jobs require people to have a college education because the Company is assuming that by your completion of college, and having a broader basic knowledge of things than those less educated, they are getting a more valuable asset. That foundation includes Algebra.

The famous philosopher Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." This means that students need to learn the patterns of history and the lessons learned from the historical mistakes of others. If not, one may find they ignorantly make the same mistakes that others have in the past. It is the lessons and patterns of history that are important. The same is true of Algebra.

If all a student takes from an Algebra class is a comfort with variables and formulas, an ability to interpret graphs, to think logically, and a willingness to use abstraction when they solve problems, then I will consider that a success. However the students will be the real winners in the situation. They will have gained some incredibly useful life skills. These skills will open doors and help students to out-think competitors to land that job or nail that promotion.

Kathy Billings

6/29/2009