The Case for Federal Intervention in Math Education [View all]
People out there, conservatives mainly, try to say that states ought to decide education. Fair enough, except that America's economic ability to produce people with the skills for the jobs available is largely dependent these days on mathematical and scientific knowledge and ability (STEM). I've seen up close in graduate school how much more math literate America's economic competitors and real job-takers, India and China's students are when they study here. Many of the same subjects American schools require only 1 semester of calculus and 1 semester of stats for, require 3 semesters of cal and linear algebra in India, China, and even LatAm and Europe. Some of their schools even require algorithms and programming courses even if they don't major in computer science or computer engineering.
Currently, most states have algebra 2 and trig as the top high school requirements. That needs to be done away with. American students should be taking calculus in 12th grade across the board, not just the "G&T" kids, some of who are truly gifted/talented, but others whose parents are just protecting built-in privilege/advantage. I know that state's are supposed to have "rights," but this is a matter of economic importance. Cut out the demagoguery already.
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