Kids are Competitive

Of real growing concern in this country is a sinking level of knowledge in math, science and technical fields such as engineering. In this day of information technology, high tech gadgets, and increasingly dangerous threats from small organizations using cell type command structures, a higher proficiency in the basics of math are more important than ever. Recent research suggests the higher rate of testing and drilling associated with math at the early stages (i.e. learning your multiplication tables) drives kids away from mathematics as an academic endeavor.

However, kids are competitive. I believe one way to draw them back into the fold would be to create games and teams where they can compete against other schools' teams. Apparently, some people at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville agree with me. They recently held such a competition at the tri-state area.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville recently held its 35th annual high school mathematics contest. Approximately 600 students from 36 high schools in the tri-state area participated. Some schools entered multiple teams.

Participating high schools were divided into four divisions according to school size. Students competed both as individuals and as teams. Freshmen and sophomores were designated Level 1 while juniors and seniors were Level 2.

Fredric Tufte, a retired UW-P faculty member, introduced the contest 35 years ago. He and other faculty at the time wished to provide an event for high school students who expressed interest in mathematics.

Typically, three teams from each division are given plaques for their achievement, but this year, due to ties, four teams in Division 2 and four in Division 4 were awarded.

Results for local schools were as follows:

Division 2 -- Platteville High School took first, Western Dubuque High School and Wisconsin Dells High School tied for second and Wahlert High School placed third.

Division 3 -- Lancaster High School took third.

Division 4 -- Cascade (Iowa) High School took first place, Darlington and East Dubuque, Ill., high schools tied for second.

Individual awards were given for a score of 80 or better for Level 1 and 70 or better for Level 2. The students received certificates and UW-P T-shirts for their achievements.

These kids deserve a big round of applause for their efforts, and other contests of similar design need to be created to encourage and incentivize the learning process to go along with the athletic competitions. Given the limited availability of jobs for professional athletes, the individual student, the economy, and the nation as a whole would benefit from making learning math and science cool again.