In a new book Shakespeare
Didn't Need College Algebra, author Barbara G. Lenmark wondered, as a
professor, why so many liberal-arts majors were constantly failing a degree
requirement, College Algebra. They probably never would use it--and had already
taken at least two high school required algebra courses fulfilling the
rationale for this requirement: logic, reasoning, problem solving, and
persistence. Moreover, too many
often were forced to take from one to four pre-requisite classes just to
qualify for College Algebra. So she decided to enroll in that class and write a
first-person account of her experiences.
That meant going incognito for nine months in those courses,
the first two at a community college, the last two at a state university. What
she discovered shed a shocking light on what is principally an unnecessary
course for liberal-arts majors, as well as a financial boondoggle for math
departments at the expense of students' tuition, time, energy, emotions, and
talent. In this book, readers will get a vicarious, often hilarious, experience
of a "bonehead's" daily slog through those classes. But, far more important,
they'll also find an invaluable set of step-by-step lessons written especially
for non-math types to master the major algebraic concepts and processes in the
three pre-requisite courses and College Algebra. This excerpt is from the
opening chapter.
Shakespeare Didn't Need College Algebra
By BARBARA G. LENMARK
It started
simply enough. Clint, one of the quietest journalism major I'd ever had, waited
for the last student to leave the classroom. Then, he spoke for the first time
all term.
"Math 121 is how come it'll take more than four years to
finish," he said, picking up a point made in today's lecture about the trend of
a degree taking five or more years. Math 121 had different course numbers
around the country, but its title was always either "College Algebra" or
"Pre-Calculus"--the former preferred.
I groaned inwardly. Not another liberal-arts major whining
about that four-hour course required for all
degrees. Of the hundreds I'd advised, so few journalism majors had passed it
the first time that my standard advising pitch was to drop down to three light-weight
courses when they took it. Give it undivided attention, I'd encourage, because
so many admitted they'd been "rotten" in math since grade school days. Almost
didn't graduate from high school because of it.
I was about to roll out other bromides ("most colleges
require a one-hundred level math class," "it teaches problem solving, logic,
organization, etc."). But was startled to see Clint fighting tears. Common for
coeds insisting, "I'll never use it!" But never men. Some cursed. One hit my
desk in fury. None ever cried. Yet here was a lad who looked like a poster boy
for the Marines, verging on unmanly conduct--and before a woman professor.
"This is my fourth time through," he said. "And they say
I'm not trying!" Up came the square jaw and the murderous look. He turned
away. I was unaware then that many
students at our university and those elsewhere--probably including Clint--were
taking four pre-requisite courses even to qualify for College Algebra: Math 30,
Math 50, Math 55, and Math 90. Only College Algebra credits counted toward a
bachelor's degree.
At four credits per course at nearly four-hundred dollars
per credit, those five courses would cost eight thousand dollars. Plus books, a calculator, supplies and
maybe a private tutor ($10-15 per hour). Too, repeating a "pre-req" meant
paying an additional sixteen-hundred dollars. Even if Clint had not flunked a pre-req, four repeats of College Algebra still
cost a small fortune! To say nothing of having to postpone other courses and
being robbed of study time for those he was taking. Getting his BA degree would
take years.
I looked shocked.
"Clint! That class has cost you more than six thousand
dollars!"
He shrugged. "You gotta have College Algebra to get a
degree."
I wasn't about to admit that when I was an undergraduate, no math was required if you could prove it wasn't needed in your major. The only math ever needed in journalism involved doing headline counts or sports statistics. So I petitioned for a waiver successfully and escaped. So did those majoring in most liberal-arts fields such as history, political science, speech, philosophy, sociology, theater, art, English and all the foreign languages, religion, and physical education.
Is Math Really Vital to Careers and Life?
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