As a physics educator, I see firsthand the unnecessary deficiencies that our students must cope with and overcome if they are to succeed in the sciences - let alone other fields. One of the most pressing problems pertains to a lack of mathematics preparation.
Many high schools require less and less math and science courses to ensure that students can finish.
Math is a fundamental avenue of communication and thought for scientists and engineers. Though natural phenomena can often be explained without mathematics, ultimate career success in science or engineering cannot occur without a significant mastering of mathematics. Often, in science courses, too much emphasis is placed on the use of calculators as a crutch without encouraging thought about the meaning of the numbers that are being manipulated. Receiving erroneous answers like 1.8 x 10 -18 molecules for the total number of water molecules in the Earth's oceans does not register with many students as being wrong and why. Too often, there is a focus on getting an answer and not thinking about its significance or even looking at the answer.