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C00002 00002	Would you be interested in joining me in a letter to Science
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Would you be interested in joining me in a letter to Science
elaborating the following complaint about an editorial in
the September 7 issue?  Coming from computer scientists, it
might be effective.  I have put the editorial in your box.

mathed[e84,jmc]		Statement on mathematics education

	As computer scientists with a mathematics background, we are
doubtful about replacing $1+1=2$ by $1+1=0$ as suggested in
the 1984 September 7 editorial by Lynn Arthyr Steen.
Indeed boolean arithmetic is used in computer programming and in computer
hardware.  However, we find the weaknesses of college students
in conventional mathematics, e.g. algebra and geometry more of
a handicap in studying computer programming and
 computer science than an unfamiliarity
with boolean arithmetic.  The fact is that these parts of mathematics
are rather easy and can be picked up when required.  On the other
hand inability to do algebra is not easily remedied or its consequences
avoided.

	More generally, the accomplishments of students in computer
science are more often limited by mathematical weakness than by 
lack of study of computer science.