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Michael Magoon's avatar

I completely agree that we need to make data more accessible, and we need to teach how to analyze numbers. I would add two points:

1) Accessible databases on historical data would make it much easier to study history methodically. The number of databases has rapidly increased but there are many gaps. Plus the databases are typically only available to academics

2) Such databases could really help use to identify policies and practices of the past that might be applied today in modified form. This would help us to accelerate progress.

3) Teaching quantitative reasoning and statistical analysis is much more useful than many types of mathematics that are currently required in school, such as Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and Calculus. We still need to teach basic Arithmetic (adding, subtracting, multiplication and division), but higher forms of Mathematics seem far less relevant to adult life.

Higher Math is the number one cause of student failure, so why require it unless you are a university major in Science?

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