[alberthartman]

Math, especially algebra, is essential to all technology. Counting and measuring and projecting forward are foundational skills. The thing is that there are two basic aspects to algebra, one is conceptual and the other is mechanical. The conceptual part is interesting and worthwhile to most people. The second thing is what drives people off - the long detailed mechanical aspect of accurately doing long equations, perfect transcriptions, looking for simplifications and cancellations. But it is precisely this laborious mechanical aspect that has been drastically improved with modern symbolic math software like Mathematica and Mathcad, et al. Factor a twenty term formula, do any integral, or differentiate a messy equation in about, oh, half a second? The failure is that we don't teach these software skills right at the start.

How boring would writing be if we didn't let students use word processors with their perfect erasers, spelling checkers, scissors, tape, carbon paper, and endless new blank sheets? Or if we forced all architects and engineers to use rulers, pencils, Leroy lettering guides, and E-size paper on drafting boards every time they wanted to design something for others to build, not allowing them to use Solidworks or Autodesk, or equivalent modern tool to help? Ditto for movie making, or pretty much everything else.

Algebra is great. Teach it along with teaching the modern symbolic math tools that go along with it.