Higher Math Letter - Press Democrat 7/13/06

Higher math
EDITOR: For two decades, I was an algebra teacher for eighth grade through the community college level. In my experience, most students of algebra only take the subject to obtain a diploma or degree. Only a very few first-year and second-year algebra students, probably 30 percent of all students, actually go on to take higher math that uses algebra, such as calculus. Even fewer graduates, probably 5 percent of all students, actually use algebra or higher math in their profession.

No wonder the level of eighth-graders enrolled in algebra is so low, particularly among limited-English speakers. This unattainable state academic goal encourages drop-outs and discriminates against immigrants. Focusing eighth grade and high school academic goals on four-year college requirements is ineffective and self-limiting. Instead, we should offer all seventh- and eighth-graders and high school students vocational courses; and only those students who choose a four-year college preparatory curriculum should be required to take algebra, with business math required for two-year college prep students. If you want to be a scientist or engineer, you can always take higher level math when you are mature and motivated.

BOB WHITNEY