The Great Algebra Debate

Math Mavens Ask Whether We All Need to Know That X + Y = Z

High school math has become a battleground in the American education system as pundits, policymakers, and educators war over how and when to teach it—and whom to teach it to. We all can agree that math skills are vital for the next generation of scientists, computer programmers, and engineers—but what level of mastery do the rest of us need to attain? In advance of the Zócalo event “How Much Does Math Matter?”, we asked people who write about, study, and teach math, should we all have to master algebra?