Re: Don't Call It "Algebra"; Call It Something Warm And Fuzzy

"Larry Hewitt" <larryhewi@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>> This is mechanical, and has no mathematical content, nor
>> statistical content except descriptive.
>
>Wrong.
>
>There are calculations to determine quartiles, and an *****sment of 
>understanding of statistical concepts.
>
>This chart is an im****tant foundation for further study of statistics. In

>fact, my first college stat class mentioned it as a quick and easy way to

>demonstrate skewed data.

Herman is a statistics professor of significant repute, and he seems
not to consider that sort of stat class to be proper statistics.
"Cookbook" statistical algorithms are frequently used without
understanding, leading to misleading results (sometimes intentionally
misleading).

>>>So how would you grade a student who uses outstanfing toechnique to 
>>>rpesent
>>>linear eq. in point-slope form when the question alled for the
>>>slope-intercept form?
>>
>>>Did he just not follow instructions, and shouldn;t that be punished?
>>
>> I would be unlikely to ask the question.  I am not even sure
>> that I would give such, except as how to normalize the equation
>> of a line for certain purposes, and leave it at that.  Memorizing
>> trivia is not that im****tant.
>
>My legislature demands that I teach this, failure to do so will result in
my 
>termination.

Herman doesn't think that legislatures should have the right to decide
curriculum - only subject matter academicians.

>Strict adherence to rules is an impediment to early childhood
development, 
>not a goal. They are experimenting, experiencing, evaluating, learning. 
>Rigorous attention to rule shuts down this process.

But in mathematics, such rigor is mandatory for real understanding.
Which is why I think it is so hard to improve mathematical education.

Other countries that outperform us in science and math tests are also
noted for being envious of American initiative and creativity.  It
could very well be that there is a tradeoff between rigor and
creativity for all but the most intelligent (and maybe even them).

lojbab
Bob LeChevalier - artificial linguist; genealogist
lojbab@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
   Lojban language www.lojban.org