Why Math and Science Are Important

Since the winter 2000 release of worldwide student test scores from TIMSS-R (Third International Math and Science Study Repeat), we have heard a lot about how American children's math and science skills need to improve. But for you as a parent, here is the bottom line: if you want for your children to succeed in work and in life, then strong math and science skills are not optional. They are essential. Here's why:

• Math and science are required for most new jobs.
  Technology is driving America's economy and our way of life today. And behind every technology you will find mathematics and science. When your child grows up, practically every employee of every company will need the skills that math and science provide. Consider that:
  - In 1950, 80 percent of jobs were unskilled. Today, 85 percent of jobs are skilled, and that includes just about every field.
  – Every year across the nation, tens of thousands of jobs go unfilled because employers cannot find job applicants with adequate skills.
  – The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that colleges will have to quadruple the number of computer science graduates by the year 2008 in order to meet demand.
  
  What it all means is that whether your child dreams of becoming an attorney or a nurse or a carpenter or a musician, he or she will need a solid grounding in math and science in order to do the job.
  
  
• More than ever, math and science are basic skills for daily life.
  Your child will need knowledge of math and science in order to understand and use the information and the technologies that surround us every day: computers, health information, and finances and more. Moreover, math and science are critical to being well informed about current events that affect all of us: the cloning of life, genetic engineering, new drugs, computer privacy, global warming and more. A child well versed in math and science will, as an adult, be able to understand these crucial issues. Our MSTV (Math & Science Television) modules will help your high schooler understand that important role that math and science play.
  
  Now is the time to begin. Talk with your child's teacher or guidance counselor about math and science preparation. Ask your school or library about other sources of help. Guide your child to visit math and science websites.

We at Getsmarter.org provide a range of age-appropriate, rich educational links that have been reviewed by educational experts. Also be sure to encourage your children to visit our interactive, private math and science assessments to see how their performance in math and science compares to other students worldwide — we have both practice quizzes (for elementary and middle school students) and The REAL Challenge (for elementary through high school). With a strong start now in math and science, your child will have an advantage for life.