I had a bit of an epiphany this last year and I have been on a bit of a soapbox about it since.
Why Oh Why are we insisting our kids study higher math?
The main reason we started teaching higher math is to teach logic. But higher math is not a good fit for all students; even college bound students.
What did I get out of my study of higher math? I received the knowledge that I could do higher math - with a fair amount of work. That's really about it. I do not use it in my daily (or yearly) life.
However what I would have really benefited from is a personal finance course. That is the kind of math that affects me on a daily basis. I have had to learn on my own how taxes, interest and amortization works. I have struggled to make a working budget and how to effectively make wise financial choices.
I venture to speculate that the lack of emphasizing personal finance in lieu of higher math courses might actually contribute to a rising generation and nation who have more debt than they can handle. Many do not understand the true purchase amount of a new car or mortgage. They do not understand how to budget and save. They do not know what it actually takes to run a business. They often do not take personal responsibility for their finances and look to others or even government to take care of them.
When I was in school, personal or consumer math had a stigma to it: it was for the "losers;" the kids who were just barely going to graduate anyway. I find this is unfortunate. We encourage higher math for all students to teach logic. Why not instead teach Logic. We encourage higher math because we have decided that everyone needs a college degree. I'm not so sure about that one either - but that is a different soap box.
I am certainly not saying we should not offer Calculus and Statistics. But I do think it would be better to emphasize personal, consumer, or business math.
So if I had my way, This would be my recommendation: Encourage math courses for everyone through Algebra and perhaps a little Geometry and then require a personal finance course (or consumer or business math). Algebra and Geometry often appeal to different of students. (I did better in Algebra; my husband did much better in Geometry.) By then most students know whether or not they would want to continue with the higher math courses. Leave higher math for the scientists, mathematicians, engineers and those who just love it. However have everyone take a personal finance course. I think we will be better off as a society.
