To think the school system is ridiculous

Again though, same point.
SO many ways to teach all of these things other than just algebra. To think we can only develop these skills via algebra is very naive.

I'll add in lots of medical careers.

Paediatric medication is often given in x ml per Kg weight of child.

Radiographers need to calculate how much radiation they expose someone to.

Surgeons putting things like metal pins in your broken arm.

A chef scaling up a menu to feed 50 people at a wedding. Yes you can do it with ratios but you don't want to increase the salt content by 50.

Students since time immemorial have wanted to change education. That doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. Designing a curriculum requires a lot of expertise that they won’t have yet.

A huge amount of time and effort goes into ensuring the curriculum hits all the right notes. It’s not like it comes from nowhere.

But HOW do you suggest changing it.

That’s the answer you aren’t giving.
Of course it can be updated and changed but cutting out key subjects and concepts is not a good good start!

My two pence worth. It should be broader, more subjects at a slightly lower level until 18. Coursework to account for at least 40% of the grade.

Did a quick google for jobs needing algebra:
Jeweller
Dietician/nutritionist
Air traffic controller
Working in broadcasting
Carpenter
Market research analyst
Buyer
Meteorologist

Just for starters

It's about being able to learn and think, as much as the subject.

They were obviously talking about the complex algebra taught in A level maths, not basic maths that a primary school child should be able to do.

Honestly this thread has made me sad. We are so lucky to have the chance to study up until 18. You get the chance to use your brain every day and see where it takes you. As a teen you simply aren’t equipped to make decisions about what may or May not be relevant to you in the future. A good broad education gives the best foundations.
Op I really hope you aren’t telling the kids in your care about how useless it all is. Maybe rethink your career

oh and yes we could shake up education a bit but the basic cornerstones need to stay in place

So you fail the equivalent of A level maths in Ireland and still study history at uni at s good uni?

Mathematics upgrades the mind, as well as being foundational for many careers:

computer scientist
engineer
actuary
statistical analysis for academic research
economist
scientist
any career where an analytical, logical mindset is required

The OP is implying that anything more than basic maths be optional or not covered in a national curriculum. What would happen in their scenario is that well-off families would ensure their children received tutoring to have access to these careers. Everyone else would be limited in terms of prospects.

The point you're missing OP is the subjects you study and the content of those subjects aren't the most important part of school. What's important is learning how to learn.

If you do that you can turn your brain to anything from algebra to Russian to car maintenance. It's about the discipline of critical thinking, skill acquisition and study.

Carping about how much you hate algebra and Shakespeare demonstrates that you haven't really grasped that most fundamental point about education.

I really don't enjoy maths either because I find it hard but I don't find it hard to understand that its hugely important and that many people get a huge amount of value from it.

You seem very hostile to the idea of learning in general and it really makes me question whether you should be working in education.

There is nothing wrong with learning for the sake of it. In fact, it should be encouraged.
I also agree with all the comments about algebra and how important it is. Just because I never use it doesn’t mean it’s not essential to others.

It’s not just about logic and reasoning though. It teaches abstraction too, which is an important cognitive skill.

I don't get why you think this is the 'gotcha' question you think it is, but since you asked me: yes I did. Further Maths too. Given I'd already said I've got a maths degree, somebody with decent deductive reasoning abilities (which maths is good for), wouldn't have needed to ask the question.

Anyhoo, in this wonderful world where all kids' opinions are 'valid' (whatever that means), I've just asked my son what he'd like to do at school. Football and Dude Perfect. A bright future awaits.

Everyone uses algebra in adult life!

He clearly doesn't know what algebra is if he doesn't know that he uses it frequently in his daily life.

When he was at school he obviously didn't understand the concept and thinks it is all about letters and if he doesn't see a letter then it can't be algebra.

There are SO many other ways in this world to learn reasoning and logic other than algebra/quadratics etc!

We are so wedded to this outdated idea that we cannot see how single minded it is.

Any scientific study applies statistical analysis to the data collected.

The stats tests used (there are many different ones, the test used depends on the type of data collected) involves equations and arithmetic.

All science involves maths and we definitely need scientists!

No it isn't. You use maths in virtually every practical subject. You might not notice it while you are cooking making a dress or putting petrol in the car.

I agree with you, no one that I know has had to use any algebra in their life

Kids only hate school cos they haven't been to work yet. Then they'll look back and appreciate their 3pm finish and mass amount of holidays😁Seriously though OP, I can see hundreds of uses for algebra as pp have pointed out and I say that as someone who hated maths at school. Do you think other subjects are pointless too or just maths?

In Scotland there’s Maths, and Applications of Mathematics. The latter is not abstract and can be said it’s slightly easier.

Algebra stretches the brain. Although some people won’t use it in adult life, the skills they learnt by doing it will continue with them and be applicable to other subjects, as well as having developed their brain.

Algebra is probably one of the more useful and relevant parts of Maths. You should have chosen something else to denigrate, OP!

Maths is incredibly important- in my line of work a decent understanding of maths will quite easily triple your salary.
Project manager - screwed without
PA - absolutely necessary if you want to earn more than 15k a year (our current one is at 50k and will go higher - she’s amazing with budgets, planning etc)
Scientist and engineers: goes without saying
Researchers: absolute necessity
Designers: absolute necessity
and so on