Editorials / Opinion

High schools should teach practical math

Though we may think that every student graduating from high school is going to be a great engineer, scientist or financier, most will be part of the backbone of the working class [“Math test may keep many seniors from graduating,” front page, April 9].

Where are we headed when a 32-year-old math genius can figure out how to find the area under a curve but cannot figure out how to fill out his IRS tax forms? Are we driving our students to become the best mathematicians in the world instead of teaching math for living a normal, everyday life? Practical math is not taught in high schools.

Here is a thought: How many marijuana or gun advocates can pass the Washington state high-school math test? Can you pass the test?

Jim Morris, Renton