OT - Sparty drops algebra
That's it. That's the post.
In light of the recent "to football factory or not" discussion this seems relevant and maybe worth a joke or two.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/07/06/michigan-state-drops-college-algebra-requirement.
January 2nd, 2020 at 7:35 PM ^
Nobody uses algebra in the real world.
But everyone orders an occasional pizza.
January 2nd, 2020 at 8:04 PM ^
And sparty is happy to oblige.
January 2nd, 2020 at 9:06 PM ^
Oddly enough, algebra is one of the few things that I actually use on a daily basis at work. But certainly not college-level stuff...basically what I learned in middle school. I work in finance, and knowing how to set up financial models and spreadsheets that are dynamic based on various input cells requires understanding a bit about algebra. I make everyone who joins my team do some basic training as well. No real point to this story, other than algebra is cool and now I can certainly cross all Sparties off of my interview list!
January 2nd, 2020 at 9:52 PM ^
I often use cross multiplication for proportions. This is not difficult but a key skill.
January 3rd, 2020 at 6:14 AM ^
In my experience, the folks who insist they never used any math they've learned couldn't forget it quickly enough.
You can't use what you don't know.
I use math all the time, what I've retained anyway, and in some situations really wish I hadn't lost so much of it. Relatively recently I needed to figure out the area of some irregularly shaped floor space (bit too tricky for HS geometry) and I realized with much regret that if I still had my calculus I would've actually had a measurement instead of a rough guess. Your typical anti-intellectual jackass wouldn't even consider that there's a mathematical solution for such a problem. That's how you get to the asinine -- albeit technically true -- result that "no one" uses math in the real world.
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:21 AM ^
I was one who was wondering when I would ever use the math I learned in school later in life. Now I have found I use math constantly at work, but that may have something to do with the fact that in college I decided to become a math teacher.
However, my spelling is atroshous.
January 2nd, 2020 at 7:35 PM ^
The joke was that they offered algebra in the first place.
January 2nd, 2020 at 7:52 PM ^
I am sure they dropped it because they can't spell it among other big words!
January 2nd, 2020 at 7:54 PM ^
Those three syllable words can be a doozy.
January 2nd, 2020 at 8:14 PM ^
It is not easy for even the staee administration to always be....
when it comes to spelling!
January 2nd, 2020 at 11:34 PM ^
Ironic to misspell accurate.
January 3rd, 2020 at 1:40 AM ^
I hate to break it to you guys but UM offers college algebra as well. You gotta look deep in the available classes and you’ll find it. I don’t think most student athletes are taking calculus.
January 3rd, 2020 at 7:04 AM ^
it's not that sparty offers college algebra, it's that they are no longer even requiring that basic level of math competency from their students.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:17 AM ^
Did you even read the article?
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:20 AM ^
Michigan doesn't either so lets not stay on our high horse for too long. They require you to take 2 QS (I think that is the right code) classes. Some of those classes are a complete joke. Not sure if it is still around but there is one that was Math 310 (I think it was that level) - The Math of Games. ZERO numbers involved, just learning some of the very very basics of some simple math based games (tic tac toe, NIM, etc). That counted.
January 3rd, 2020 at 10:38 AM ^
Yes, this was the “Zeros For Hero’s” course. Pardon the pun, but it’s correlates (or it’s negative correlates considering the math vs humanities angle) in the classics department are the famous two-part intro survey courses which together comprise the “Hero’s for Zeros” sequence. 101 was focused on Ancient Greece and 102 covered the Roman world.
January 2nd, 2020 at 7:37 PM ^
Isn't this old news? I recall hearing about this (or something very similar) last year.
January 2nd, 2020 at 7:43 PM ^
Yeah, MSU removed the math (quantitative studies) gen ed requirement for graduation a couple years ago - there was a thread here on that.
The OP's link looks like it is dated to 2016. Yikes.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:42 PM ^
Keith Jackson is gravely ill, I'm told. Doctors say he has only 9 days until his death.
January 2nd, 2020 at 7:41 PM ^
This is an article from four years ago.
Wow. Saying 2016 was four years ago is weird. Time flies.
January 2nd, 2020 at 10:17 PM ^
Clearly, this lowering of academic standards has markedly impacted their football recruiting on an upward trajectory since that time.
January 3rd, 2020 at 5:39 AM ^
That’s very nice of you to let Sparty know 2016 was four years ago. Their heads would probably explode while trying to figure it out.
January 3rd, 2020 at 10:38 AM ^
the next thing you know it'll be 2020!.... oh wait.
January 2nd, 2020 at 7:41 PM ^
Math education is fucked in America. There is no continuity in the way they teach it from level to level and no understanding that it is just a bunch of numbers to kids if they don’t focus on practical application. They teach it like they want every student to be Will Hunting. Teach the kids to add, subtract, multiply and divide the most basic way possible, then give them a calculator, teach them how to balance a check book, and offer high level math as an elective beginning in the 11th grade.
January 2nd, 2020 at 8:04 PM ^
As a teacher I can't believe how lucky I am to have seen this post. We had no fucking idea what we were doing but this should change everything.
January 2nd, 2020 at 8:20 PM ^
Good to hear, thanks.
January 2nd, 2020 at 9:16 PM ^
Hahaha--perfect. I can only imagine what it is like to be a math teacher. I assume every parent says: "We didn't learn it this way when I was in school . . ."
January 2nd, 2020 at 9:13 PM ^
Balancing a checkbook is the most important skill for students in 2020? Am I that guy that is missing an obvious /s?
January 2nd, 2020 at 11:37 PM ^
Who the hell writes checks anymore? I give checks to my lawn guy, probably because he is taking the money under the table and not properly reporting taxes on it. Other than that, I pay everything electronically.
Every bank account has given you online statements for about 15-20 years now. I can't see why anyone who ever need more than that. I can't even remember the last time I recorded writing a check. I just keep the carbons built into my checkbook.
January 3rd, 2020 at 6:57 AM ^
Your "carbon footprint"?
January 3rd, 2020 at 7:54 AM ^
You think the statement 'balancing a checkbook' has something to do with writing checks? LOL!!! Sure, it did 20 years ago. Its about keeping your bank statements balanced, and nothing more. Nobody writes checks except for you and 85 year old women.
BTW, your lawn guy isn't taking anything under the table when he has to go to the bank to cash your post-dated check. When it hits the bank, its all reported. You want to hook him up, give him cash. Cash is the only way he can run it under the table without going through hoops to hide it.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:17 AM ^
This times so many. Teaching kids (and adults for that matter) the basics of financial literacy is critical. How to balance their bank account, how to understand their cash flow, budgeting, time value of money and simple compound interest.
For the record, I rent and still have to write a monthly check to my landlord as well as for my water bill; but I agree checks are a dying breed.
January 2nd, 2020 at 10:50 PM ^
I'm in my 30's and have no idea how to balance a checkbook, because I don't have one, and never have. Does anyone still use those?
January 2nd, 2020 at 11:40 PM ^
There is literally no use for balancing a checkbook, and hasn't been for decades. Just look at your statements/transactions online once a month and verify that everything seems correct.
January 3rd, 2020 at 7:42 AM ^
As opposed to actually is correct?
January 2nd, 2020 at 7:42 PM ^
2016 article
January 2nd, 2020 at 7:45 PM ^
Ugh.. the tweet I saw was from yesterday so I didn't bother checking the date of the article... my bad. If mods still exist please delete.
January 2nd, 2020 at 8:53 PM ^
Dude, the mods are all in the portal.
January 2nd, 2020 at 9:41 PM ^
The mod is in the portal?
January 2nd, 2020 at 7:46 PM ^
Is it 2016 already?
January 2nd, 2020 at 7:52 PM ^
A + B = 8 Hour Deposition
January 2nd, 2020 at 7:54 PM ^
Hey, now, in 2016, Keith Jackson is still alive...
January 2nd, 2020 at 8:44 PM ^
Still?
January 2nd, 2020 at 10:27 PM ^
He died on the fake moon walk set. Whoa Nelly, that looks like it hurt!
January 2nd, 2020 at 9:18 PM ^
Ole Miss hasn't started targeting Partridge. Targeting rule doesn't even exist yet.
January 2nd, 2020 at 9:40 PM ^
He is going to die many deaths in a couple of years.
January 2nd, 2020 at 9:38 PM ^
Don't you mean again?
January 2nd, 2020 at 8:03 PM ^
My daughter is a freshman at MSU and had to take Algebra so I don't know how accurate this 2016 article is.
January 2nd, 2020 at 8:28 PM ^
Sounds like this was previously a requirement for all students ... so her major may still require it, even if not all do. Maybe??
January 2nd, 2020 at 9:29 PM ^
Outside of particular majors, I'm not sure it is that different here at UM now. Although some have QR course requirements (that can be fulfilled through all sorts of non-math classes) I don't remember algebra as a specific requirement. Maybe you need to have had it prior to admission?