The STA administration and math department is discussing the addition of a math course to the curriculum for the 2011-2012 school year. According to math department head Arlene Hernon, no decisions have been made regarding the course. However, according to principal for academic affairs Barbara McCormick, the title of the new course is unknown but will be offered as an alternative to AP Calculus after completing pre-Calculus or triginometry and analysis.
“It’s important that we add a class because students are required to take four credits of math and there might be a student who might not want to take the AP track,” McCormick said.
Senior Emily Baker chose not to take a math course her senior year because she already recieved the four credits to graduate through the early morning math class offered prior to her freshman year. With AP Calculus as her only option for a class, Baker did not want to add stress to her senior year with a class she thought would be too challenging.
“I think it would be beneficial for incoming seniors to have the choice of a different math class because it doesn’t seem logical to have students be out of practice for a year because of a lack of course options,” Baker said. “[If another class would be added], it would allow for students to be prepared for a number of different math classes they might take in college.”
According to McCormick, either a college algebra or probability and statistics course are the most viable options. McCormick believes that a course focused on analyzing data will be helpful to students who are not looking for a career necessarily excelling in mathematics.
“I just believe we have to really help young women grow in their mathematical skills,” McCormick said. “I am in support of whatever course [the math department] decides on. I think I lean towards something that offers more of a probability and statistics level unless we thread that more into our curriculum.”
The administration is seriously looking at additional staffing, according to McCormick, because of the lack of free time available for math teachers to help students. McCormick believes the additional math class will offer even more course flexibility and opportunities for STA students.
“We are looking at the 21st century and the student that is going to move on [into the working world],” McCormick said. “That student is going to have to be good at taking data and being analytical with it. I think you get that when you see a lot of the statistics or probability threaded into the curriculum or at least promoted as a course.”
