Curriculum Models

By Conrad Wolfram
There are few subjects in today’s school curriculum as emotive as math. Like it or loathe it, the sacrosanct, central, compulsory position it commands for years of every student’s education is rarely questioned.
Well, I am going to question it. As a mathematician and as director of what’s arguably the world’s ‘math company,’ I’m exposed to math from more angles than almost anyone. I’m also extremely pro-math and what it can achieve.
And yet I believe today’s educational math is the wrong subject.

This summer I had the honor of attending an event that brought together educators and industry leaders involved in improving the state of STEM education in the U.S. During a panel discussion, I was asked whether I was encouraged or discouraged by where we are today in terms of diversity in STEM education. I am definitely encouraged, but we still have far to go to achieve equity in STEM education for minorities who have been historically underrepresented in STEM fields.

As millions of American children head back to school over the next few weeks, they’re preparing for lessons in reading, writing, and math.  But there’s one crucial subject that too many of today’s high schools students are missing out on: Financial literacy.

In the not-so-distant future, you’re driving to work. You approach a busy intersection, and your car exchanges some information with the traffic signal. It slows as two other cars pass safely in front of you. Your car automatically adjusts its speed once again after passing through, and the light never even changes.