Saturday, March 9, 2013

Why school matters. ( As annoying as it is)

     There have been so many times when I have asked myself, " Why do we have to spend so much time learning math?"  "I don't see how I am going to use it in life, so why bother learning it"  Well, I finally learned the answer to this question from my teacher who was giving the answer to another student in my class who was complaining about the apparent uselessness of math in general.

   First of all, if you dream of going to college, any college, you will need to know at least high school math.  Every college gives new students an assessment test to determine their ability to do math.  If you do not test at the college entry level you will be placed into what is called "remedial" math.  This means that you will take math classes without college credit until you get up to college entry level ability.  Research has proven that students who are placed into remedial math are less likely to graduate college. Scary huh? It's must easier to learn the math when you're supposed too, and not have to repeat it later on.

     The other thing I learned is that more, and more jobs require math skills. There are few jobs today that do not require any math. Even everyday living requires a basic knowledge of math so that you can balance your checkbook, pay your bills, and avoid getting ripped off through shady financial deals. Math is at the heart of many other professions including architect, construction, manufacturing, shipping, retail sales, medicine, and many others.

If math is difficult for you, ask your teacher or your parents to either help you or find someone who can tutor you.  Some schools have a tutoring program where you can use a study period or after school time to gain practice on your math skills.  And for you students who love math and understand it well, please try to help your fellow students who may be struggling.  It is very rewarding to help someone else to improve their skills.  When you get to college there are usually plenty of tutoring jobs available and you might be able to earn some extra money.

So next time you or your friends are complaining about how difficult math is and how much you hate it, take the time to think about the reasons to deal with math and learn it now.  Today's pain is tomorrow's gain.


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