Commentary On Zach's "Changing Goals"

My classmate Zach stressed some really good pointers with this commentary, but i think he failed to mention the importance of what Algebra 2 brings to the table.
Algebra 2 is a math course that is either taken during the junior or senior year of high school. 
It is suppose to prepare the students for the future math courses that will be taken in College, which is College Algebra.  Algebra 2 involves critical thinking, and problem solving, which i think is why the majority of students find it difficult. With Algebra 2 off the curriculum in high school, it does not necessarily mean something easier will come along, because that's not the case. 

I do agree with Zach though, if they are going to drop Algebra 2 from the curriculum they should replace the class with something that is practical and will be used later in life. But those classes that are "used later in life" are usually in college, when you are closer to your major. 

The Texas Board of Education is trying to change the Texas Education little by little, as it shows, TAKS test have been replaced by STAR test, a test much more difficult. 
So maybe with the absence of Algebra 2 in high school will bring something better that will prepare the students in high school even more for the future. 

 As we all know traffic in Austin is dreadful, city planners did not plan ahead for the growth Austin has experienced in the past 10 years.  The Texas Department of Transportation is debating on expanding Austin’s MoPac Boulevard to eight lanes from six. The two new lanes will be tolled, giving people a chance to pay a toll fee to avoid the road’s congestion.  This is a bad idea because converting roads into tolls that have already been funded or paid-for is wrong.  Austin's tolls are the worst in the most taxed city in Texas, people don’t want to have to pay a toll fee just to avoid congestion on MoPac.  State leaders should provide locals a free pass and toll everyone else passing through.  The prediction for this proposal is that the private toll road companies will end up in debt just like the privately managed southern portion of the State Highway 130 did.  The privately managed company opened last year and has drawn less traffic than investors had predicted, leaving them in fear that they will be in debt by 2014.  Building more toll roads in Austin will not solve the solution for the congestion on MoPac and I-35, they should build them but people ride them for free.  San Antonio builds new roads and lets the drivers ride for free; Austin builds new roads and wants to toll the drivers.  It seems like every new proposal that is made involves more money, we pay enough taxes already and the growing population in Austin should be a wakeup call to act immediately without making locals pay more money.