The Really Scary Thing About Math

It is not math that equals fear but the hard work, time and discipline that math involves that scare most students away.

L.A. schools are essentially teenage day-cares that have not only failed in preparing students for the essentials like math and English, but severely failed in preparing students for critical thinking, which affects all subjects. The victims are not only those of social promotion but also include the honor students who do their busy work and memorization.

A student can have every mathematical fact and formula memorized, but without thinking critically about the problem, it is impossible to know which formula to apply. This process requires hard work and discipline on the student’s part.

As a student of Glendale Community College and a graduate/victim of an L.A. Unified high school, I understand this “math dilemma,” but I also know there is hope. Last semester I took intermediate algebra as my first math class in seven years. It seemed overwhelming, but with the combination of having an excellent teacher, the math-science center to offer extra help, and my own hard work, I pulled through with a high grade.

Basically, in college you are on your own with nothing stopping you from taking full advantage of what the school offers, except for the fear of hard work.

JENNIFER TOOLE

Burbank