Math, The 'Most Valuable Subject ', But Is It?

Meghan N., a high schooler at UWCSEA East, stands against the wall of her house’s common room as she nervously taps her foot as she waits for her mother to get off a phone call. Meghan looks up at the white walls covered with post-it reminders of homework, meetings and shopping lists in a failing attempt to distract herself from her mother’s reaction to what she will soon announce to her.

Meghan’s attention snapped back to her mother as she heard the telephone click.

“Mom, the math test didn’t go that well. It was really hard, and our teacher never taught us half of what was there on the test!” Meghan admitted her mother, looking down as she noted her mother’s displeasure caused by her daughter’s confession.

“Why? You should still know, I helped you study, and you went to tuition for what? Five hours? Do you want me to tell your father?” Meghan’s mother snapped, “Never mind that, go read the next chapter in your textbook, I don’t ever want you to come home again telling me you found a test ‘hard’. Till then I’ll set up another tuition session for you,” Meghan’s mother grumbles some inaudible comments while hastily punching in her daughter’s tutors cellphone number.

“I can’t mum, I have a Spanish quiz tomorrow, I need to study for that!” Meghan interjected, while she waved her arms frantically, similar to a drowning child.

Meghan’s mom put her hand on her phone to muffle her voice to the other end of the line, “First go finish your math, then start Spanish, math is always the first priority.”

In the year 2014, many things have changed and developed in the past hundred years, things that have forever changed the way the world works, the way people act and what people believe. The discovery of airplanes have forever changed the definition of traveling. The discovery of nuclear weapons have forever changed the definition of war. However, math still remains the definition of education. In a recent survey by ‘Gallup Poll’ concluded that 32% percent of adults think math is the most valuable subject for children to learn, but is it? Only two out of the ten best paying jobs in America require a major in mathematics. Then why are children taught that math in the most valuable subject thats taught to them in their schooling years? Is it for jobs in the future? Money? Or parent’s personal point of view?

“My mother always told me that math has the most stable career options, and as a parent now, I want my child to have a bright future and math can provide them that, that’s why I push them to strive in math.” A mother of three explains. Many people believe that it is an old mindset that art, English and other majors of such sort will not be able to help provide one stability for a life time. Another father agrees, “In this new era, with so many people following their dreams of becoming a model, fashion designer and other professions like such, the world lacks mathematicians, which is why I firmly believe we need to help our children choose to follow those paths for the better of everybody.”

In contrast, other parents believe that everyone should follow their own dreams and enjoy what ever subject they would like to. One mother believes that Languages are the most important subjects taught in school, “Without languages it’s not possible to communicate, and for that matter, even learn math.”

In the modern day and age, with so many possibilities for career options, and so many opportunities, math is not the only subject that will get you a good job. Do what you want to do and do what you love; and if you love math, go ahead and do math.

Written by Mehak