“My child is a great artist, but he just isn't good at math.”
“Not every child is college material.”
“I was never any good at math, and I turned out OK.”
How many times have we heard these and other comments like them? While they may each be true, they ignore the reality that math and science are increasingly the gateways to economic opportunities and social engagement for individuals and communities alike.
Today's students will face a world that is more complex, more technologically advanced, and more globally competitive than any of their predecessors. As a result, they will need higher levels of skills than ever before to be prepared. Research shows that the highest level of math taken by students in high school is the greatest indicator of their chances to earn a bachelor's degree, regardless of race, background or income.
The importance of math goes far beyond those students who aspire to be a cancer researcher at Fred Hutchison, an aerospace engineer at Boeing, or even a programmer at Microsoft.
Beyond the workplace, our young people will need the ability to understand increasingly complex issues to be involved and contributing citizens. Global warming, alternative energy, stem cell and other health sciences research, privacy protection in an information age—these are just a few of the many challenging issues our students will confront. They will need a firm foundation in the analytic disciplines to make good choices about their future.
To learn more about these important issues, check out the links below:
