# Is eliminating Algebra 2 from high school a thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 14, 2019, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eliminating-algebra-2-from-high-school-a-thing/831156 "2019-03-14T23:12:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eliminating-algebra-2-from-high-school-a-thing/831156/21 "2019-03-15T17:20:01Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Algebra 2 is clearly NOT needed in many career tracks, and doesn’t need to be a graduation requirement. Neither was most of my high school curriculum. And hardly anyone is on a “career track” in high school. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eliminating-algebra-2-from-high-school-a-thing/831156/22 "2019-03-15T17:25:20Z")
Career track is currently a buzzword in educational circles. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eliminating-algebra-2-from-high-school-a-thing/831156/23 "2019-03-15T17:40:57Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > I don’t think any state is considering removing algebra 2 and higher classes from curricula. I sure as hell hope not. Back to my original post: I wasn’t really asking if any place is actually removing algebra 2 and up from the curriculum, but if there is any group that actually advocates such a move. Or is this opinion just another manifestation of the smart=bad, educated=elitist thought process that seems to permeate some sectors of society. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eliminating-algebra-2-from-high-school-a-thing/831156/24 "2019-03-15T18:50:14Z")
We had a general “consumer finance” class in high school, but I don’t remember anything specific about it other than “If you just make minimum payments on your credit card, you’re gonna have a bad time.” How do you even teach “How to open a bank account” and “How to get a loan”? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eliminating-algebra-2-from-high-school-a-thing/831156/25 "2019-03-15T19:02:44Z")
Another thing; if you want to teach kids something really practical, you should teach them critical thinking skills and how to decide what to believe among all the crap that gets posted online. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eliminating-algebra-2-from-high-school-a-thing/831156/26 "2019-03-15T20:04:13Z")
In my school, Algebra II was taught immediately after Algebra I in the AP track, but after Geometry in the non AP track. The result was that everyone took Geometry in 10th grade who wasn’t on the remedial math track. I think this may have been at least partly practical, as there was one math teacher who specialized in geometry, and he was only available at the high school, which started in 10th grade. The AP track then had a combination Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus class for 11th grade, and Calculus I for 12th grade. I only specifically remember that Calculus was when we first learned of differentiation. I’m fuzzy on what we learned in trig/pre-cal. I’m pretty sure we already knew the trig functions by then. I think it might have been the first time we were introduced to radians, though. Oh, the remedial math track had two years for Algebra I and two years of Geometry. However, I think at least Geometry was a different course than the one we learned. ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eliminating-algebra-2-from-high-school-a-thing/831156/27 "2019-03-15T20:19:30Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > What could you possibly spend a year of trigonometry on? When I took the one semester course, half of it was devoted to things like trig identities and half to the most boring possible calculations using table look up which would be utterly useless these days. > > When I was in HS there was no calculus taught except that they were doing AP as an experiment (that was in 1953-54). In my school trig was combined with algebra II; I agree that trig shouldn’t be a full year course. Algebra II/Trig was a grade 10 course and Calc was taught in grades 11 and 12. It was a lot of math but it really helped make first year of engineering a lot easier. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eliminating-algebra-2-from-high-school-a-thing/831156/28 "2019-03-15T20:24:34Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > How do you even teach “How to open a bank account” and “How to get a loan”? [ol] [li]Walk into the bank[/li][li]Walk up to the teller[/li][li]Say, “I would like to open a bank account”[/li][li]Someone will tell you what to do right then and there.[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eliminating-algebra-2-from-high-school-a-thing/831156/29 "2019-03-15T23:39:21Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > I recently had a dust-up on Facebook with a relative who shared a meme saying that high schools should stop teaching Algebra 2 and replace it with practical things like budgeting, opening bank accounts, applying for loans, etc. At first I thought he meant that Algebra 2 should not be required for graduation; I pointed out that most high schools have senior year math courses below Algebra 2, so it is not a graduation requirement (although most colleges require it for admission). balancing a checkbook is 3rd grade math and easily worked into the course work. I don’t understand the logic of withholding classes needed for college. It’s brutal to stumble into college behind the learning curve. It means spending extra money for remedial instruction. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2019, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eliminating-algebra-2-from-high-school-a-thing/831156/30 "2019-03-16T00:02:15Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I don’t understand the logic of withholding classes needed for college. It’s brutal to stumble into college behind the learning curve. It means spending extra money for remedial instruction. Not everyone graduating from high school will go to college, nor do they need to. One can go to tech school and leave there with the skills for a high-paying job. Those needing Alg 2 can get it in high school, but not everyone needs to take it. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2019, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eliminating-algebra-2-from-high-school-a-thing/831156/31 "2019-03-16T00:11:14Z")
> [@](#): > > The personal finance course description includes the following: > Students will learn basic money management strategies including budgeting and properly handling credit. Students will be introduced to all types of investments classification that are necessary to achieve a balanced portfolio. This class is real world oriented and students will complete several projects including a reality-based budget project and stock market simulation. This course will help prepare students for the financial decisions they will face during and after high school. Sounds good. We had a consumer math course of some sort that covered budgeting, at least. But it was an elective, and I didn’t take it. I think I perceived it as a lower-level math class, and it may have been treated that way at the time. I do think that it’s nice to have a basic financial literacy course of some sort. Not taking the place of any other math class, though. I know parents should teach, but in some areas, many don’t seem to know the facts, and spread misinfo to their students. I mean basic things like how credit cards affect credit scores (from personal finance boards, many seem to think you need to carry a balance). Or how marginal tax brackets work - many people think they just pay that new (higher) percentage on all earnings instead of just the amount above the previous bracket. I know you can take the initiative and learn these things yourself (the old books we used to get for taxes made this fairly apparent, I thought), but many won’t. And I think what you learn in this class would be more useful than sewing in home ec or woodworking in ag. If they teach about investing and portfolios, they should really talk about index funds. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2019, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eliminating-algebra-2-from-high-school-a-thing/831156/32 "2019-03-16T00:25:49Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > How do you even teach “How to open a bank account” and “How to get a loan”? Yeah, I was wondering about the bank account thing too. I guess it could be useful to tell people that they should do some comparison shopping to make sure the bank isn’t ripping them off, but other than that, you just, like, do it. Nearly any bank has a big shiny “APPLY NOW” button right there on the website, you don’t even have to go wait in the old people line at the branch. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2019, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eliminating-algebra-2-from-high-school-a-thing/831156/33 "2019-03-16T02:14:45Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Another thing; if you want to teach kids something really practical, you should teach them critical thinking skills and how to decide what to believe among all the crap that gets posted online. Dont teach kids what to think as much as _how_ to think. Many of the “facts” you have them memorize will be disproven during their lifetime! And as far as balancing their checkbook; teach them skills they can use so they won’t ever _have_ to balance their damn checkbook. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2019, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eliminating-algebra-2-from-high-school-a-thing/831156/34 "2019-03-16T06:15:34Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Not everyone graduating from high school will go to college, nor do they need to. One can go to tech school and leave there with the skills for a high-paying job. Those needing Alg 2 can get it in high school, but not everyone needs to take it. As the thread is about eliminating Algebra 2 from high school I don’t understand what point you’re making. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eliminating-algebra-2-from-high-school-a-thing/831156.md?page=1)