Won't comment on the E.O. Wilson part of this interesting thread. As a former High School Teacher, Math was not required for any of our Biology courses. That included the upper level Junior and Senior classes. I tried to change this, am not it was that successful. Am not speaking for all High School Programs by any stretch. I do know this....by not making Mathematics as part of the Biology Program, it was obviously not reality as it works in the real world. If a Student was ever going to pursue an Advanced Degree in Biology, Math would certainly be a necessity. I found the message being passed on to Students to be particularly dangerous. It was certainly perpetuated by Teachers, at least at our High School by some arrogance from Chemistry and Physics Departments. Not only did the Students have an opinion that Math was not an important issue in Biology, but Teachers in Chem and Physics also passed this message along. It just couldn't be farther from the truth. I just personally found it quite frustrating. We did get all of the quality Students for at least an introductory Biology course, but we just didn't get them for the Advanced classes. This really limited some things we could do. Again, not speaking for all High Schools, I know of some programs where this myth does not exist and some of the Biology courses are as rigorous as anything taught in the Sciences in those schools. Have never really pinned down anyone at the University level to ask them this, but I'm guessing with a great deal of confidence that many University level Biology Professors find a good percentage of their Students really lacking in Math skills? I hope I am wrong. Went to a very well know private Liberal Arts College and knew that I was going to major in Biology, did that along with Chemistry. Students, am including Pre-med, Pre-dental Students did have the option to take a very watered-down Math, non-Calculus-based Physics and Chemistry track.
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