You really will need this later

Just a quick post to share an article I read last Thursday morning in the local paper: "Math problems are a problem for job-seekers, employers say"

To summarize, General Plastics Manufacturing Co. in Tacoma, Washington is having difficulty finding qualified workers who have basic math skills.  They only interview high school graduates, but applicants are failing a middle school level math test.

This depresses me.  I love math and teaching it to my students.  I constantly connect what we are learning to what they will need later.

The article mentions the trends toward Common Core and STEM education.  Maybe we need to teach delayed gratification.