Solving for the Why in Public Education (Thanks to Algebra)

MY VIEW

I recently bought a gift for my high school algebra teacher from years ago — a hand towel with a phrase that encapsulated my sentiments: “Another day has passed, and I still haven’t used algebra once.”

When I presented it, we laughed, reminiscing about how much I complained during those years. Then he asked, “Did I ever make you cry in class?” Someone recently had confided in him, admitting they frequently cried during his lessons, and he felt a pang of guilt.

I reassured him that he never made me cry, although the subject sometimes caused some frustration. I reminded him of the help sessions he offered, where we worked on problems and completed assignments. Even though I sometimes felt like algebra was insurmountable, I eventually managed to pass his class without tears.