My nieces's algebra teacher told me at a parent's teacher's meeting that he teaches algebra on the calculator. The kids don't have to write out the problem solving process on paper, just write down the answer they get on the calculator. I told him it was just a class how to use the fancy calculator, the children weren't learning thought processes how to solve problems. My DGD goes to a very small school and no calculators are allowed in algebra class or on tests but the teacher does have a course on how to use the fancy calculators. The teacher is also having a class after school how to use the slide rule. The kids thinks it's super! Two teachers had to volunteer so many kids come to that after school class. The hardest part was finding enough slide rules to use. LOL