Plank 3: Statement

[mathismore]

Mathematics education at all levels, including advanced college programs, is a form of vocational and professional preparation.

We must recognize that there is a compelling national (and local) interest in the state of mathematics education. While we do not see this as a zero-sum game, with our country (or state) vying to do better than another, our overall mathematical literacy and competence is important to our economic health. Industry, in addition to government, needs to be heavily involved. Employers are after all parents and vice versa. Surely, having good high school math grades or SAT scores must be about more than getting into a good college. Being able to analyze and solve problems using quantitative reasoning is an increasingly necessary job skill. We believe that not enough emphasis has been placed on the needs of students. Their future will involve many different jobs. They will need to master current and emerging technologies. We know that they will need creativity, independence, imagination and problem-solving abilities in addition to skills proficiency. In other words, students will increasingly need advanced mathematical understanding and awareness of the tools mathematics provides to achieve their career goals.