By Julia DiFiori
Copy Editor
In a department where addition is a foundational skill, things are finally starting to add up. The Mira Costa math department has been considering the introduction of a financial math class, which would benefit the students by creating more options for those who are not strong in mathematics as well as providing them with the chance to learn applicable skills.
The 2015-16 Course Description Book lists a total of 13 math courses currently available at Costa. According to the Course Book, students must take four semesters of math in order to graduate in four years. Two of these four semesters must be first-year algebra or higher. According to Debevec, the financial math class would be an option for additional math credit and would cover topics such as insurance, car loans, stock market, credit cards, income taxes and banking. A Costa financial math class is in the idea phase, and it could take approximately two years to add this class to Costa’s offerings if the idea becomes a main priority now.
As stated by Debevec, Costa’s options for classes beyond Geometry and Algebra 2 are limited. This lack of flexibility prevents students from making the most of their high-school education. However, high schools have started to offer UC and California State-approved financial math classes, and the Costa math department is considering creating a similar course of its own, which would provide much-needed real-world application and variety within the department’s offerings.
A financial math class would provide students with useful knowledge and skills. The curriculum would not only cover relevant subject matter, but also employ interdisciplinary thinking through the incorporation of certain economics concepts, which would enhance both a student’s overall knowledge and learning process.
Costa scholars would benefit from this educational opportunity. It would be especially valuable for upperclassmen who are not strong in math and do not plan to study mathematics in college, but still want to enroll in a high-school math class other than one that is currently offered and prepare for the future.
For these students, succeeding in a financial math class would be a suitable alternative to struggling through one of the higher-level math classes that are offered now. Having the option available would be invaluable to the number of students who would have a much better math experience by taking a financial algebra class, according to Debevec. Since the traditional precalculus route is not ideal for every student, the addition of this alternative course would provide proper math placement, which is more fair to both students and teachers.
Students who want to attend college could still be deterred from enrolling in the hypothetical class because colleges may not regard a Financial Math class with as much prestige as they would an upper-level math class, and most students want as much of an edge in the competitive college admissions process as possible. However, as stated by Debevec, these upperclassmen would have a more meaningful and rewarding experience in a financial math class. Ergo these students should consider an alternative math class as a way to boost their GPAs while learning applicable skills.
Furthermore, the class could be named “Advanced Algebra With Financial Applications,” as suggested by the UC Course Approval References, to inform college admissions that it is not an Algebra 1 course, but rather a math-department course that covers advanced algebra topics beyond those covered in Algebra 1 and Geometry.
Because the current math-class offerings do not set up all students for correct placement and academic success, there should be more potential routes they can take in their high school mathematics studies. The math department’s consideration of a Financial Math class is a long-overdue step toward needed flexibility, and this idea should become a main priority.
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