Opinion: Is Algebra 2 an Unnecessary Standard?

By Farrah Muhammad

House bill 2278, sponsored by State Representative, John Fillmore proposes new mathematic standards that would no longer require Algebra 2 in Arizona high schools.

The bill still requires 4 years of math. However, students could elect to take an equivalent math class that focuses more on tangible life skills such as personal finance, computer science, statistics, or business math.

The bill has been approved in the House and currently awaits approval in the Senate.

Current high school graduation requirements are largely tailored to students who wish to attend a four-year university. In particular, classes like Algebra 2 cater to students interested in science and math careers.

This would not be a new measure in Arizona high schools. In fact, the policy that required Algebra 2 was instituted fairly recently in 2013.

The course has been linked to the increasing dropout rate across the country. In 2010, before Algebra 2 was a graduation requirement, 2.6% of Arizona students dropped out. In 2020, that rate increased by 0.7% to a total of 3.3% of students.

State Rep. John Fillmore, R-Apache Junction, has been attempting to pass this legislation for 6 years.

When Congressman Fillmore was a high school student, he recalls struggling to pass the 10th grade. He went on to serve in the army and establish various successful businesses. He experienced firsthand how high school mostly caters students who wish to pursue higher education.

Today, he is a passionate advocate for diversifying educational pathways. He walked me through amortizing a loan, a skill that he believes should be taught in high school math, to demonstrate the real-world math skills that students are not being taught in high school.

Current Poston Butte High School math teacher, Benjamin Gwin believes that “this is long overdue. Algebra 2 is the gateway to precalculus and calculus, and a lot of students do not go into that track. If you’re planning on going to college for a science degree then you absolutely need to take Algebra 2. But if you don’t plan on that, I don’t see the importance of Algebra 2.”

Many opponents of the bill feel like it may place too much pressure on students to determine their desired career early in life. If a student takes an alternative route and later decides they’d like to pursue a different career, they may not have the necessary prerequisites.

However, Mr. Gwin notes that students, “can still come back into Algebra 2, and you really haven’t lost a lot of information because even in your financial math, personal finance, or statistics, you’re still doing basic algebra which is the foundation of Algebra 2.”

Politicians get their say, as do teachers. Student perspectives are just as valuable in debates over curriculum and district standards.

Poston Butte High School senior S.S.J says, “allowing students more control over their career will be a better transition to college. Our courses are so strict and don’t allow for much exploration. But when we go to college we’re expected to be in control of everything and declare our major.”

High school junior, A.S.W acknowledges that “of course we need the basics of math, but higher levels of math are not necessary for all students.”

Allowing students more control over their educational pathway is a step in the right direction to allow students to approach education as a more self-guided enjoyable experience. Leaving high school with more knowledge on finances is very beneficial, as students will face many difficult decisions on education costs, debt, housing, etc.

However, I can’t help but think this bill is largely prompted by rising dropout rates. Simply eliminating a graduation requirement glosses over a larger issue within the education system. I think that every student is capable of succeeding in a class if given the resources, many of which are inaccessible due to inadequate funding that impacts the quality of teachers, materials, and opportunities for students.

Overall, this bill is great for diversifying options to meet the needs of a larger group of students. But, education has a long way to go to truly prepare students for their futures.

Student of the Month: Nicholas (Niko) Hill

By: Stella Bock

One of the Students of the Month for February was Nicholas (Niko) Hill.

Niko is a straight “A” student; he works hard and gets the job done. Out of 327 sophomores, he is 15th in weighted GPA. He likes working hard and finds success in it. Niko plans to get a scholarship to college with the help of the National Honor Society.

Outside of his daily school activities, Niko likes watching TV and hanging out with family and friends. Niko is also a big fan of basketball and loves to play it.

Niko’s favorite quote is, "It's not about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward," from the movie Rocky Balboa. Not only does Niko take this to heart but also puts this forward into his everyday life. After high school, Niko sees himself getting a full ride scholarship to ASU to get his doctorate degree as a Mechanical Engineer.

When I asked him what tips he would have on becoming Student of the Month, he said that having the motivation to keep pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, working hard, and to always show respect and kindness to your peers is a great place to start.