35 Percent!

A member of my community is frightened and disturbed by the results of this year's No Child Left Behind scores. Only 35 and 47 percent of 11th graders in two area high schools passed the math tests. In a letter to the local newspaper, he asks us to:

Imagine an airline pilot being correct 35 percent of the time; imagine a brain surgeon being correct 47 percent of the time; imagine a pitcher throwing strikes 35 percent of the time -- none would have a sustaining career.

A promising start, but I think he erred by turning to baseball for his concluding example. Presumably he's talking about Major League Baseball. Let's continue: Imagine a batter getting base hits 35 percent of the time. That's terrible! No, wait. He would be paid millions of dollars while playing in a billion dollar stadium subsidized by the public.

Who needs math anyway?