Improve math, science

Spokane’s school board is hosting a “Coffee and Conversation” from 6 to 6:50 p.m. today (Feb. 25) at Ferris High School library before their regular board meeting. I’m asking you to go at 6 p.m. and ask for better 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 sixth- and seventh-grade math tests. Fewer than half passed the eighth- 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.

If you can’t go, please call or write to board members. Together, we can turn this thing around.

Laurie H. Rogers

Spokane