Sound Off!: Can We Make High School More Relevant?
In “Standards for High School Mathematics: Why, What, How?” in the December 2008/January 2009 issue of Mathematics Teacher, Eric W. Hart and W. Gary Martin summarized a perplexing problem in the U.S. education system—namely, the challenge of reforming high school mathematics. The article referenced a 2007 conference sponsored by the Center for the Study of Mathematics Curriculum that addressed two important questions concerning mathematics achievement: What should students learn, and when should they learn it? Presenters from Achieve, Inc., the American Statistical Association, the College Board, the Mathematics Association of America (MAA), and NCTM openly discussed and debated the topic questions. The conference provided an excellent format for dialogue about the nuts and bolts of what students should be taught and when these topics should be taught in the K–12 timeline. Several participants acknowledged, however, that additional factors complicate our challenges with high school students.