ALGEBRA IS VITAL IN EVERYDAY LIFE

Due to the advent of the K to 12 Program of the Department of Education (DepEd), various career opportunities are now offered to would-be employees in the department. On the aspect of human resource, an opportunity to be hired as a public school teacher is one consideration. In fact, in the senior high school department, a number of teachers have already been hired and the agency is still screening other applicants. The same is also true in the other departments from kindergarten to junior high school. Dichotomous to this opportunity and the demand for the hiring of more teachers are the challenges that the newly implemented program espouses. One of these is the qualifications and ability of the would-be teachers.

In so far as teachers’qualifications are concerned, a due regard to the education of the applicants is obviously given serious consideration. The qualification standards approved by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) give priority and higher salary grades to teachers who have completed their masters’degrees as minimum qualifications to certain positions. Additional pointing system is of course given to teachers who have either completed their doctor’s degree or at least earned particular number of units. This therefore signifies that further academic studies and professional development of teachers are very significant. Nowadays, we barely see teachers who are already contented with their bachelor’s degree and simply pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) and forever stay as Teacher I in the department. It is an era where even newly graduates are enrolling for further studies in various colleges and universities for purposes of better career in DepEd or in any other industries.

While enrolling in further studies entails economic factors and other aspects that can be considered as big challenges of this effort, we cannot deny the significance of this initiative. The sweet success that it can bring us towards the realization of our dreams for better career in the future shall speak of its true worth and value. Its disregard is similarly a disregard of our opportunity to truly grow in this vocation of feeding young minds and nurturing young hearts.

— oOo— The author is Teacher III at San Esteban High School, Macabebe, Pampanga

Many people think of Algebra as a classroom activity that is so abstract and has nothing to do with the real world. The truth is, algebraic concepts are at work all around you. All those computerized electronics you enjoy so much; such as CD and DVD players, video games, and, of course, computers-were made possible using principles of Algebra. And it’s not high tech businesses and products that rely on algebra.

You will find algebra at work and in almost any place where a product or service is provided. For example, behind the scenes at your favourite fast food restaurant or pizza place are people who rely on all kinds of Algebra skills related to statistics, measurement, ratio and proportion, economics, graphing and even probability to help them stay in business, make a profit and predict possible results.

People use algebraic skills in everyday life, too. If you double the size of recipe, figure out how long it will take you and your friends to travel x miles, to the state basketball tournament, or estimate how long it will take you to save enough money from your part time job to buy that stereo system you’ve always wanted, you are using Al gebr a.

You have probably getting the idea. Whether you see it or not, Algebra plays a vital role in much of the world around you. And you’ll need algebraic skills for yourself to survive and, we hope, succeed in this world. That’s why schools require you to learn Algebra: you’ll need it.

Algebra as a branch of Math is designed to help you develop your basic skills, no matter what your needs or goals might be. Learning the foundation of Algebra, from the nature of numbers through basic operations with integers, fractions, and decimals, you will move on to solving equations and inequalities in one and two variables. Many of the problems you will solve uses Algebra to represent everyday Math problems, as well as problems from other subject areas, such as Science and Social Studies.

Learning Algebra in its true sense is exciting and an enjoyable one. Aside from the fact that you will be critically inclined you will appreciate the real meaning of all things around you. Algebra is everywhere; fascinating discoveries will lead you when you start studying this beautiful branch of Mathematics.

— oOo— The author is SST I at Duquit High School, Division of Mabalacat City