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Discussion: Should Math be a Requirement?
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 31,895
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bey_Rihstan
English is the only subject that would help you with everything in life & is the only one that should actually be required.
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Can you elaborate on this opinion, please? I agree about the importance of English, but I want to understand more of your perspective regarding its usefulness and applicability.
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Member Since: 4/24/2011
Posts: 17,221
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Quote:
Originally posted by Element
I feel like English is incredibly underrated in society. Many people in business, the sciences, and mathematics do not know how to write effectively. To make things even worse, English majors are ridiculed for their decision, with low starting salaries and a terrible reputation. It was once a well respected major, but now it is looked upon as a joke. Very sad.
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I really enjoy English and taken the (optional here) SAT to improve my critical reading skills, and I feel like I really gained a lot from learning English solving through the SAT questions - it requires a certain amount of skill and observation to make inferences and author description trough implicit -and not directly mentioned information
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Member Since: 5/19/2012
Posts: 25,222
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Quote:
Originally posted by Element
I feel like English is incredibly underrated in society. Many people in business, the sciences, and mathematics do not know how to write effectively. To make things even worse, English majors are ridiculed for their decision, with low starting salaries and a terrible reputation. It was once a well respected major, but now it is looked upon as a joke. Very sad.
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Definitely. English really took a hit with the Internet now that anyone can type up an essay and it be taken seriously (not saying it shouldn't though). I feel like English should really be focused on communication and writing rather than literature though. Sad that English majors either have to rely on teaching or basically work somewhere that isn't their major
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 46,848
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Quote:
Originally posted by Anvarie
For the millionth time the OP did not say zero math
It said up until high school
And by your logic a student taking AP history, AP enviromental, AP English, but no math isn't challenging themselves
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Middle school math is literally adding/subtracting/multiplying/dividing. Go to a legitimate job interview and tell them that is the highest level of education you've ever received and see how that works for you.
The issue today, is that the workforce is extremely underqualified for jobs. Removing REAL math would only make it even worse.
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Member Since: 9/4/2011
Posts: 29,960
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Quote:
Originally posted by Lethal
What?
You're saying you would rather have no math skills, having a low paying job, struggle to make ends meet all for the sake of the fact that you don't feel like taking a course that is actually challenging? Seriously y'all?
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You're getting nothing from this.
Where are you getting no math skills from? I've mentioned several times in the thread, high level math.
Why are y'all acting like it's because we just "don't feel like doing it"?
BITCH, I try
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Member Since: 2/2/2014
Posts: 11,642
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All these people on the planet working 9 to 5 just to stay alive / The 9 to 5 just to stay alive, the 9 to 5 just to stay alive / The 9 to 5 just to stay alive, the 9 to 5 just to stay alive / The 9 to 5 just to stay alive, the 9 to 5 just to stay alive / All the people on the planet working 9 to 5 just to stay alive, how come?
All the people talking about STEM jobs
Good for you enjoy your 9 to 5 job with benefits and paid vacation time meanwhile the rest of us will enjoy our non math related careers
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Member Since: 8/18/2013
Posts: 20,010
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What is meant by High School?
Some people barely get to Algebra by the time they graduate and some people, like me, take Calc by their junior year.
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Member Since: 1/25/2012
Posts: 44,884
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bey_Rihstan
I said that. Why should my school get to tell ME what should be required for what I want to do in life? The only math a regular person really needs to know is Basic Math (addition, subtraction,multiplication, division) & a little algebra. Kudos to you if you want to do more, but everyone shouldn't HAVE to.
English is the only subject that would help you with everything in life & is the only one that should actually be required.
That's just my opinion though.
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You're viewing it from a one sided standpoint. Math is more than just numbers. Like a member previously posted in this thread, it's one of the few subjects that actually makes you think. It helps with your analytical skills, and chances are if you master in math, you'll master in everything else. Even English, as you'll have the ability to understand.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 16,407
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Quote:
Originally posted by MiMiLamb
Funny how you were able to think of an example for language, but NOT MATH
I only used language to show how you will forget when not using it. Language is much more applicable in life.
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funny how i already stressed math with examples a few pages back, and hinted that in the beginning of the post you just quoted both language and math are education sis , my explanation of one could be applied to the other - you just need to be able to logically connect the dots.
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Member Since: 4/24/2011
Posts: 17,221
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I personally feel that we need mandatory maths in high school because students haven't discovered yet what they like.
Some people who struggle with maths in middle school can soar in HS, and some people who have had a dream job not related to maths but realizing it isn't for them in HS, and they want a STEM career shouldn't struggle through playing catch up with already difficult mathematical concepts while trying to balance the rest.
tl;dr: teenagers are too volatile to be able to choose optionals in freshman and sophomore.
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Member Since: 2/2/2014
Posts: 11,642
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Quote:
Originally posted by Lethal
Middle school math is literally adding/subtracting/multiplying/dividing. Go to a legitimate job interview and tell them that is the highest level of education you've ever received and see how that works for you.
The issue today, is that the workforce is extremely underqualified for jobs. Removing REAL math would only make it even worse.
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Idk what kind of middle school you went to but I finished adding/subtracting/dividing/multiplying in like the fourth grade
Obviously if it wasn't clear already if math was no longer a requirement in high school/college for non math majors when I obtain my non math related degree and apply for my non math related job they won't give a flying **** about my ability to find the obtuse angle of the scalene triangle
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Member Since: 9/4/2011
Posts: 29,960
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Quote:
Originally posted by BudBud
+ (im not saying other jobs arent) but stem jobs helps the progression of society so much , and you get to affect so many lives in a positive way - alot of people find that more rewarding than the money - but for mimi that would drive him to suicide apparently
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I cannot @ you trying to spin this off as "They don't want to progress society or help people"
This is about extra, unnecessary, MATH.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 46,848
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Quote:
Originally posted by MiMiLamb
You're getting nothing from this.
Where are you getting no math skills from? I've mentioned several times in the thread, high level math.
Why are y'all acting like it's because we just "don't feel like doing it"?
BITCH, I try
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Middle school level math can literally be performed by primates. It won't get you far in life.
And just because its hard or you struggle at it doesn't mean it should just be eliminated. That's something more with the teachers and faculty than the actual concept of math itself.
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Member Since: 4/24/2011
Posts: 17,221
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Quote:
Originally posted by Anvarie
All the people talking about STEM jobs
Good for you enjoy your 9 to 5 job with benefits and paid vacation time meanwhile the rest of us will enjoy our non math related careers
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Financial security above all. I would love to enjoy my above median salary and go on paid vacation.
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Member Since: 5/12/2012
Posts: 7,989
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Quote:
Originally posted by vamp
No. management/accounting>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>computer science>>>>>>>>>>>> math
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Math and Computer Science are a lot more important that management and accounting...
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 3/22/2012
Posts: 53,769
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I mean, I do think it's valid to require math in order to help students fulfill the expectations of employers and colleges. The fact that they expect a certain level of math may be seem unnecessary and impractical to some, but that's a reality that we can't change. Employers and schools in general won't just suddenly change their expectations in large numbers even if it's advisable, and schools have a responsibility to prepare their students for that. After they get there, that's when they can diversify and stop taking certain subjects.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 31,895
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Quote:
Originally posted by Georges
I really enjoy English and taken the (optional here) SAT to improve my critical reading skills, and I feel like I really gained a lot from learning English solving through the SAT questions - it requires a certain amount of skill and observation to make inferences and author description trough implicit -and not directly mentioned information
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Exactly. You will need to be able to interpret written works and memos throughout your career, in almost any field. There is a lot to be learned from language arts.
Quote:
Originally posted by conseeded
Definitely. English really took a hit with the Internet now that anyone can type up an essay and it be taken seriously (not saying it shouldn't though). I feel like English should really be focused on communication and writing rather than literature though. Sad that English majors either have to rely on teaching or basically work somewhere that isn't their major
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The Internet is definitely a double-edged sword in that regard! I would have probably chosen to be an English major if it led to a stronger career trajectory. I don't want to be a teacher, so majoring in English is basically out of the question. However, I still find English extremely important, and I am considering a minor out of academic interest and enrichment.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 37,384
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Yes. /endthread
I don't care what your career is you need a good amount of math to be comfortable in whatever you do.
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Member Since: 2/2/2014
Posts: 11,642
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Quote:
Originally posted by Georges
Financial security above all. I would love to enjoy my above median salary and go on paid vacation.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Arioso
I mean, I do think it's valid to require math in order to help students fulfill the expectations of employers and colleges. The fact that they expect a certain level of math may be seem unnecessary and impractical to some, but that's a reality that we can't change. Employers and schools in general won't just suddenly change their expectations in large numbers even if it's advisable, and schools have a responsibility to prepare their students for that. After they get there, that's when they can diversify and stop taking certain subjects.
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But what does this have to do with people not going into math related fields
What aren't you getting about this simple concept
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 7,686
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