No, algebra isn’t necessary — and yes, STEM is overrated - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

No, algebra isn’t necessary — and yes, STEM is overrated - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

No, algebra isn’t necessary — and yes, STEM is overrated

By Valerie Strauss

This was written by Roger C. Schank, a cognitive scientist, artificial intelligence theorist, and education reformer. He has taught at Stanford and Yale universities and is the John Evans Professor Emeritus of Computer Science, Psychology, and Education at Northwestern University. The former head of the Institute for the Learning Sciences, he is the author of “Teaching Minds: How Cognitive Science Can Save Our Schools.”

Schank wrote this in response to a recent post I published by University of Virginia cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham entitled, “Yes, algebra is necessary.” Willingham was himself writing in response to a New York Times op-ed, “Is Algebra Necessary?” by Andrew Hacker. Willingham’s