Critique: Math Is a Waste for Most
“Math Is a Waste for Most” (2008), by Florida criminal law attorney Sam Fields, explores a number of perceived disadvantages of required math classes. Fields’ passion driven article opposes the Florida legislature’s ruling that Algebra II be a requisite for High school graduation. He begins by expressing his personal experiences with advanced math classes. He asserts that his ability to get far in his career without being proficient at high level math shows that higher math skills are not important for every student to learn. He continues his argument by acknowledging that new technology has a strong influence in the mathematical world. He argues that with this new technology, higher math skills are not as
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This insert influences readers to think that the Florida Legislature is making a terrible decision in adding this requirement. Directly following this statement, Fields is guilty of hasty generalization when he declares:
I only passed Algebra I…when I agreed to stop being the class clown…
In the 10th grade, I flunked Geometry and had to go to summer school.
In the 11th grade, I dropped Algebra II…
I took some cockamamie math class in college that I did not understand then or now. I studied for the test and not the knowledge. That night, whatever I had forced fed my brain was gone with the first bong hit.
Since that time I have graduated college, got an MA, studied for a Ph.D., obtained a law degree and…I have written law review articles, co-authored books, tried two hundred plus jury trials and argued before the Florida Supreme