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To focus just on your comments about mathematics, let me point out that going through at least algebra at a minimum is valuable for everyone in a modern society

To focus just on your comments about mathematics, let me point out that going through at least algebra at a minimum is valuable for everyone in a modern society. First it is highly helpful in handling even basic household finance. Second, you cannot hope to understand even basic statistics without it (and with the way the media throws out statistics it is very dangerous not to understand at least the basics if you want to be a participatory citizen). But far beyond all that, it goes a very long way to teaching you how to think and how to make reasoned and rational decisions. Also, I think you vastly underestimate the number of jobs that require going far beyond algebra. Virtually all technical jobs of any kind requires calculus. This includes almost all engineers, virtually all scientists, and most analysts. Also, most finance jobs involve math far beyond algebra. Remember that even fully analyzing interest rates involves calculus (or at least formulas derived from calculus, and a good analyst should know where they come from). And that is again before realizing that the mere study of math helps teach you to reason and think. I am focusing only on math here, but I think you will find anyone in an advanced society will benefit greatly from algebra and far more than you seem to expect need calculus. I also disagree with most everything else you said, but I will just focus on math for the moment.

nihilocrat 17y ago
Also, in game programming trigonometry is fundamental, and in 3D an entirely higher order of magnitude is required.
- kiba 17y ago
  I am a game programming hobbyist, even I know how vital trignometry is.
kiba 17y ago
If algebra is truely neccessary, than it will be taught in some school specializing in basic education. If it is neccessary for higher mathematics to be taught, than you could just go to an engineering school. If you're a truly care about pure mathematican, than you would go to an actual university and study to become part of the scholar class. Beyond that, I don't really care much about being a "participatory citizen" nonsense because I don't believe in democracy or writing pointless letters to politicans, but I do care a lot about civic because I am an anarchist, not an apolitical person. I don't know the approriate place to teach it but I suspect that is simply the duty of parents.
- whughes 17y ago
  Not all parents are created equal. The problem with giving parents educational responsibility is that it may disadvantage those who are outcasts in the society. Poor parents who are uninvolved with the political process would in turn disenfranchise their children. There should be some basic level of knowledge which everyone has in academic and social topics.
apsec112 17y ago
"Virtually all technical jobs of any kind requires calculus. This includes almost all engineers, virtually all scientists, and most analysts." Engineers and scientists, yes, but these are a small percentage of the population; scientists maybe 0.5%, engineers maybe 5%. "Also, most finance jobs involve math far beyond algebra." No, they don't. A lot of finance people can't understand the Capital Asset Pricing Model, let alone anything more complicated. "... if you really do like math then banking is NOT for you, it’s a joke quantitatively." - http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-salaries-mcdonalds/ http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-sal...

nihilocrat 17y ago

Also, in game programming trigonometry is fundamental, and in 3D an entirely higher order of magnitude is required.

kiba 17y ago
I am a game programming hobbyist, even I know how vital trignometry is.

kiba 17y ago

If algebra is truely neccessary, than it will be taught in some school specializing in basic education. If it is neccessary for higher mathematics to be taught, than you could just go to an engineering school. If you're a truly care about pure mathematican, than you would go to an actual university and study to become part of the scholar class. Beyond that, I don't really care much about being a "participatory citizen" nonsense because I don't believe in democracy or writing pointless letters to politicans, but I do care a lot about civic because I am an anarchist, not an apolitical person. I don't know the approriate place to teach it but I suspect that is simply the duty of parents.

whughes 17y ago
Not all parents are created equal. The problem with giving parents educational responsibility is that it may disadvantage those who are outcasts in the society. Poor parents who are uninvolved with the political process would in turn disenfranchise their children. There should be some basic level of knowledge which everyone has in academic and social topics.

apsec112 17y ago

"Virtually all technical jobs of any kind requires calculus. This includes almost all engineers, virtually all scientists, and most analysts." Engineers and scientists, yes, but these are a small percentage of the population; scientists maybe 0.5%, engineers maybe 5%. "Also, most finance jobs involve math far beyond algebra." No, they don't. A lot of finance people can't understand the Capital Asset Pricing Model, let alone anything more complicated. "... if you really do like math then banking is NOT for you, it’s a joke quantitatively." - http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-salaries-mcdonalds/ http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-sal...