Math Solution

Any teacher or counselor who says to girls, “It’s OK, honey. You don’t need it,” when math becomes challenging while telling the boys to “get down and start working harder” should not be teaching or counseling.

According to the Nov. 7 article “Ventura Schools Offer Girls Own Math Courses,” Ventura High School’s solution to sex discrimination is to take the girls out of the coeducational math classes and put them into all-girl math classes. Not only does this new program not discourage sex discrimination, it reinforces the young girls’ belief that they can’t work well in the presence of boys.

This attitude will not prepare them for the world outside of high school. These girls need to learn how to face the challenge of working with the opposite sex and the boys need to learn that girls are more competent colleagues. Children who understand that men and women need to and are able to work together as equals will make a stronger work force in the future.

HEATHER EDMONDS

Port Hueneme