Many students lack math for STEM career

At present only about the upper 35 percent of U.S. high school students take a mathematically-based high school physics course. This course selection makes it possible for that student to achieve a STEM career or a career in medicine such as a medical doctor or technician.

These careers pay well and allow this upper level student to have a good life. Other students such as average and at-risk students are relegated to taking a high school physics course without mathematics or little math.

This high school physics course without math is virtually worthless as any preparation for a science, technology, engineering mathematics or medical field career since these courses in higher education require a mathematics capability which is first learned in high school courses such as mathematically based physics. Thus, these lower level students are relegated to a lifetime of lower paying careers.

I have found in my work as an inner city high school physics teacher that many average and at risk level students are capable of succeeding in a mathematically based high school physics course provided a great deal of teacher help is given as well as a calculator and extra drills and practices of required physics problems in the high school physics texts.

If the physics teacher gives this extra help and learning assistance, these at risk and average high school physics students can achieve the basic skills needed to successfully purse a STEM or medical career in higher education and thereby obtain a good life. To deprive these students of the opportunity to learn the foundations of STEM and medical field essentials may actually be a form of discrimination and possibly may make the high school liable for damages.

Stewart E Brekke

Downers Grove