MAA spokesperson responds to the recent controversy over algebra education in this longish piece:

http://www.maa.org/pubs/FOCUSoct-nov12_Steen.html

A core part:

 "So we face three distinct challenges:

-    Addressing the many weaknesses evident in mathematical learning;

-    Reducing the gulf between the traditional pre-calculus curriculum and the quantitative needs of life, work, and citizenship;

- Teaching mathematics in a way that encourages transfer—for citizenship, for career, and for further study.

I suggest that these three challenges are manifestations of a single problem, and that all three can be addressed in the same way:  by organizing the curriculum to pay greater attention to the goal of transferable knowledge and skills.

There are many ways to accomplish this, for example:

- by embedding mathematics in courses focused on applications of mathematics;

- by team-taught cross-disciplinary courses that blend mathematics with other subjects in which mathematical thinking arises (e.g., genetics, personal finance, medical technology);

- by project-focused curricula in which all school subjects are submerged into a class group project (e.g., design a solar powered car).

- by career-focused curricula in which a cohort of students focuses all their school work on particular career areas (e.g., technology, communications, or business)."