The Bookshelf: Dec. 24, 2015

Trib+Edu is joining with respected books authority Kirkus Reviews to bring you select reviews of books of note in the field of education. For more book reviews and recommendations, visit Kirkus.com.

THE MATH MYTH: And Other STEM Delusions

by Andrew Hacker

A lively argument against the assumption that if the United States is to stay competitive in a global economy, our students require advanced training in mathematics. … The author is dismayed that students are required to pass mandated mathematics courses, pointing out that it is the principal academic reason for the high dropout rate in American high schools and colleges. He shows how the requirement filters out talented liberal arts students, that math in the workplace bears little relationship to math in the classroom, and that the claim that studying math instills desirable modes of thought is built on unverified premises. .... Hacker’s arguments may convince some anxious students and be welcomed by their parents, but the reaction from academics is sure to be mixed.

For the full review, visit kirkus.com.