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Why should geometry and trig be "the foundations" while statistics is not? Because that's the way it's always been? Sounds like a horrible reason to keep things
by tomnipotent 7y ago
Why should geometry and trig be "the foundations" while statistics is not? Because that's the way it's always been? Sounds like a horrible reason to keep things the same.
- jacquesm 7y agoFor the same reason that the concrete or blocks partition under your building is the foundation: the one supports the other.
- hdctambien 7y agoGeometry is really used to introduce proofs. Turns out its easier to get teenagers to understand a proof if you can actually see its results. I think that's a pretty good foundational skill, but I admit that it isn't obvious from the students point of view why that would be or that that is what they are even learning. In Texas the Geometry class is designed to "strengthen their mathematical reasoning skills in geometric contexts. Within the course, students will begin to focus on more precise terminology, symbolic representations, and the development of proofs" [1] In Texas Trig is taught in Precalc, which makes sense if you are going to take Calc which makes sense if you are going to go on to study engineering or physics or mathematics. But neither of those classes are required in Texas. You could just as well take Algebra 1, Geometry, and AP Stats. [1] http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter111/ch111c.html http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter111/ch111c.ht...
- phkahler 7y agoI was wondering why people hadn't suggested having a choice. Go Texas!
- alxlaz 7y agoEver tried to teach an introductory Physics class without using geometry, trigonometry or calculus? (Edit: for that matter, teaching statistics to students with limited exposure to calculus is not a very successful endeavour, either...) There are a lot of things that mathematics is fundamental to besides data science, and schools need to address the requirements of all children, not just those who want to write (a very limited range of) software when they grow up.
- samastur 7y agoI wish I could upvote this comment more.
- aeternum 7y agoI hated calculus until learning Physics. It was so abstract and seemed useless. I'd much rather be presented with a problem, like how far did this ball travel, then learn calculus as a tool to solve that problem. I agree with you though that attempts to teach Physics without calculus are sorely misguided. It's ridiculous to force students to memorize kinematic equations that can be trivially derived from each other.
- shkkmo 7y agoI got lucky enough to be able to take both Calculus and Physics concurrently from the local University rather than taking Physics without calculus from my high school. It almost seems like they should be taught as a single interdisciplinary class.
- wwarner 7y agoNot really an argument. Spolsky didn't suggest leaving out geometry. Trigonometry and calculus can be shortened and taught to prepare a student for statistical reasoning, which includes plenty of trig and calc. And finally, what makes the way physics is taught so sacred? Introductory physics doesn't bear much resemblance to what physicists have been talking about for the past 100 years or so, precisely because the student lacks the statistical reasoning that modern physics requires.
- runevault 7y agoHaving gone through both without (high school) and with (college) calculus physics, yeah, it's actually easier with. I think I agree with a sibling comment though, building the two together but taking up the time of two classes (learning the physics by learning the calculus to do it) makes more sense IMO.