Half of college grads lack key skills

condo insurance | refinancing loans | Boat Loan | boat transport | refinance loans | auto cheap insurance

I agree that instilling/reinforcing the thrust for knowledge is both vital to survive in our culture and is lacking in our public school system. Equally important is the fact that book smarts and fact memorization doesn't always equate to street smarts.

I also think the relationship stating that high schoolers, with the inability to balance their checkbook equates to the need for harsher math and science curriculum's, is an apples + oranges = solution equation. My barber told me the most life preparing class he took in high school was one that was never offered to me (we have about a 30 year gap in our high school years) was a optional math class in simple things like how to quickly round and add up groceries, tips, balancing checkbooks, etc.

In my time in grad school and high school we abandoned doing "typical and useful" math training in Jr High. From then on it was a requirement to have a graphing calculator (which I no longer have on my person at all times) during all math and math related classes. Frankly I beg to differ that science and trig/calc have anything to do with budgeting yourself, financial management, banking options, retirement planning, etc. I there should be a final required math class in high school. A refresher of, back to the basics, math and fundamental financial life practices/habits.

I have one Kindergartener at North Cross - a private school in Roanoke. A second daughter enters JK at North Cross next year. North Cross is certainly on the ball with regard to their math and science curriculum.

With respect to those with highly elevated math expertise, I must admit I remain skeptical of claims that advanced math concepts including trigonometry, geometry, and calculus are vital tools that everyone must have in order to compete in our digital economy. Perhaps it is because I've met so many wonderful programmers and internet developers who, like myself, have a strong grasp of algebra but a very nebulous understanding of more advanced math concepts. I'm actually more concerned that our pubilic schools have become so focused on "teaching to the test" that students are not allowed to explore independently and learn adaptively.

I never graduated college. In fact, I never graduated the ninth grade. Yet while most kids my age were exiting college and only just beginning to wonder what their career path should be - in 1996 - I was an established director of new technologies at a new media firm. I had a great set of grade school teachers, many of whom taught to me the wonder of learning, the euphoria of a new understanding. I believe that cultivating this wonder and euphoria is far more important than drilling on a specific curriculum ad nauseum. Because once you have that thirst for knowledge, everything else pretty much takes care of itself. Sean Pecor