My Montebello

My Montebello

Montebello Newsletter

Montebello,CA

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Reality Check for High Schoolers

Summer time for some high schoolers means summer school. Last Thursday, two high schoolers came by the office, one to receive help with algebra, which she was taking in summer school, and the other geometry, which he was taking in summer school. (Between naps and deluding myself about saving the world, I occasionally engage in something useful.)

Now, the parent who brought these two teenagers was making an effort to get them through the courses, so, I imagine, she did not want me to say what I said.

Our office is in a row of offices, shops, and stores. I took the two teenagers outside and, walking by each establishment, I pointed out the usefulness of algebra and geometry to each establishment:

Establishment	Usefulness of Algebra	Usefulness of Geometry
Beauty salon, barber shop	None	None *
Paralegal	None	None
Sewing-machine repair	None	None
Accountant	A little maybe	None
Herbal medicine	None	None
Realtor	None	None
Two different insurance agents	None	None
Jewelry store	None	None *
Water vendor	None	None

* While geometric designs might figure into products and services, one does not have to take geometry to know the names of those designs.

Regardless of this reality check, the two teenagers will be going to summer school for the next few weeks. True, any knowledge, any analysis, any synthesis of concepts is good brain exercise for each of us. But there are only so many hours in a day, and there are subjects not being taught which should have higher priority than algebra and geometry.

I am concerned that these teenagers and millions like them throughout America are going to graduate high school unprepared to do anything other than to go to college, from which they will graduate unprepared to become the self-reliant, critically-thinking denizens which a democracy and a market economy need.

If you answer the multiple-choice questions below and e-mail to lessonanswers@mymontebello.com with “Lesson answers” in the subject field, you will be credited toward a “certificate of recognition in community affairs” to be awarded in 2007 by a local nonprofit organization.

1. What is the reality check for high schoolers?

(a) Courses which they are taking will not be useful to them in adult life.

(b) A lifetime is not infinite and its moments should be used smartly.

2. For whom would algebra and geometry be useful?

(a) Statisticians.

(b) Physicians.

(d) Attorneys.

(e) Aerospace engineers.

July 5, 2007

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