More Not Less Math

website Letter to the editor- FebMath credits-Feb. 24ruary 24, 2008

Marilyn Crosby- 301-8636404
46285 Cecil Road
Lexington Park, MD 20653

Regarding the subjects of math and science, our country is in trouble internationally according to the starbasedod.org. “In comparison of 15 year olds in 27 countries, U.S. youth ranked 18th in math and 14th in science.” We are not doing as well as we should be as an international leader.
The Saint Mary’s Public School System is to be praised for having the science, technology, engineering, and math academies otherwise know as STEM. The first word above the door to the STEM room at Spring Ridge Middle School is rigor!
However, as happy as I am with STEM, I was disappointed when the St. Mary’s County Public School System dropped its forth high school math credit requirement to three credits. The state currently requires 3. I saw this as lessening rigor for many, many students. One of the board of education members defended the move by saying that in strapped financial times it would make sense to adopt the state’s requirements. The state funds more than half of the school system’s operating budget. He was referring to
lessening both math and social studies.
His statement peaked my curiosity as the state did not seem to have a problem funding STEM during strapped financial times. I called the math department at the Maryland State Department of Education. I was told that about one half of the counties are moving toward or already require four credits of high school math to graduate. I was e-mailed a table titled “Summary of High School Course Sequencing and Graduation Requirements.” In Harford County the graduating class of 2010 will be required to have 4 credits. Somerset is phasing in 4. Last, St. Mary’s is going against the rigorous trend and now requires three.
St. Mary’s argues that counselors will encourage students to take the rigorous courses. Even the state agreed with me that given a choice, students might opt for something easier and have a harder time in college. If this country wants to continue to lead, we must require rigor for all, not just for some. Keep all of the children first!