Rosemary Bresler makes a strong case for high math standards in The News Tribune. Rosemary is the president of Hobart Machined Products, Inc. and co-chairwoman of AWB's Education and Training Committee. The state board of education has proposed higher math standards for high school graduates beginning in 2013, Bresler reports. And she says folks already want to weaken them. It doesn't work for firms like hers.
We provide design, precision machining and fabrication services to customers in the medical, defense, aerospace and space sectors. ...
These days our competitors are as likely to come from China or Korea as they are to be from California or Kentucky. It’s tough to compete with them on price. But we can be very competitive on the basis of quality, efficiency, innovation and service.
These things matter when you’re talking about the safety of an airplane or functionality of a satellite. They matter when you’re talking about tooling tolerances of less than 0.0005 of an inch, or successfully melding metal and composite materials.
The only way we can deliver that type of quality is through the skills of our employees.
She urges the public to support the board's call for higher standards.
Not because companies like ours need educated and highly skilled workers. But because it is our obligation to prepare students to compete for family-wage jobs and be functioning, contributing members of society.
Read the whole thing. It's an excellent demonstration of the practical consequences of setting and meeting realistic standards in a globally competitive marketplace.
