The Value of Algebra
PZ Myers over at Pharyngula is a fiery kind of guy. He describes himself as a “godless liberal.” When PZ stops talking about science and evolutionary biology and starts talking about religion, I usually disagree with him. (I say usually because occasionally, his criticisms of religion are well founded.)
Today PZ has a post that’s got everyone riled up. It’s quite a good post too. He takes issue with an article that appears in the Washington Post, by Richard Cohen. Cohen doesn’t see the value of algebra and writes:
Here’s the thing, Gabriela: You will never need to know algebra. I have never once used it and never once even rued that I could not use it. You will never need to know—never mind want to know—how many boys it will take to mow a lawn if one of them quits halfway and two more show up later—or something like that. Most of math can now be done by a computer or a calculator. On the other hand, no computer can write a column or even a thank-you note—or reason even a little bit. If, say, the school asked you for another year of English or, God forbid, history, so that you actually had to know something about your world, I would be on its side. But algebra? Please.
Myers rips Cohen a new one, and I agree with his sentiments. In fact, I’m mentioning the story because it’s just the kind of thing my dad told me repeatedly growing up. He was a big believer in a liberal arts education, one that teaches you a foundation, not just a specialized field. “That’s what trade school is,” he’d always say of a school that didn’t teach broadly. Well, trade school and grad school, Dad. 
Myers is particularly right on the value of math in science. I’m not an idiot when it comes to math, but then again, I’ve never particularly enjoyed it either. Tough luck. I picked a field built on it.
I briefly substituted in public schools a year or so ago, to supplement my income. I was still trying to decide whether to pursue grad school, or possibly teach science in high school. One experience stands out. I substituted in a 7th grade math class. The class had a teacher’s aide (a full time employee to help with the class) in addition to the teacher. The aide was a nice lady, but it quickly became clear to both of us that she didn’t know math. She was unable to handle simple fractions and simple algebra, and most of the kid’s questions were sent to me, the substitute. So I’m getting paid 7 or 8 dollars an hour, and this aide is getting 11 or 12. Add to the fact that one 7th grade girl in the class told me she didn’t need to know any of this math because she was going to get married and drop out of school the moment she could, and my faith in humanity was at an all time low that day.
We all have areas we like more than others, but if we stop trying to even learn and teach the basics of the world around us, we take a big step back towards those “middle ages” when ignorance reined supreme, and those with knowledge were capable of using it for evil and for control with scary results.