A conversation about math and science
Laurie Rogers, one of the original members of the newspaper's Parents' Council, asked me to post the following on the blog:
Spokane’s school board is hosting a “Coffee and Conversation” at Ferris High School library, 3020 E. 37th Avenue, on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 6-6:50 p.m., prior to its regular 7 p.m. board meeting.
I’m asking you to go at 6 p.m. and ask for a more traditional mathematics and science curricula.
The math and science WASLs are routinely criticized as being weak indicators of the skills needed for postsecondary life. Yet, in 2008, barely more than half of Spokane’s public-school students passed the 6th and 7th-grade math tests. Fewer than half passed the 8th and 10th-grade math tests. Fewer than half in any grade passed the science tests.
About a third of Spokane’s high school students are likely to drop out before graduation. Of the graduates who choose college, about half will need four to six classes of remedial math (which can’t be taken concurrently). When they decide math isn’t for them, the door will slam shut on multiple careers, including engineering, medicine, technology, law and business. This will be a cold shock to their parents, who watched them get “A”s in “Honors Math” and Advanced Placement math classes.
You can contact Laurie directly at wlroge@comcast.net or share your opinions on this blog.