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Let’s look at the number

I I recently heard a report that indicated roughly half of the current grade school students lacked sufficient math skills to successfully pass the standard government tests in that subject.
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I I recently heard a report that indicated roughly half of the current grade school students lacked sufficient math skills to successfully pass the standard government tests in that subject.

This bothered me because I have always thought of math skills as the basis for much of our logical decision making.

Take the Stickle Road issue for example. I am told roughly 4,000 vehicles pass this point on Highway 97 each day.

If a traffic signal were to be installed, one could argue that approximately 25 per cent of those vehicles would be required to stop or significantly slow down.

To regain highway speed, it is estimated that these vehicles (motorcycles to semi-trucks) would use an additional .1 litre of fuel each. So, now some math: 25% X 4,000 vehicles per day X .1 lt. of fuel X 365 days per year = 36,500 Litres. (yep 36,500 lt.!!)

The government has committed to replacing the lost wetlands with no net loss to the environment.

A stop light on a highway is still a dangerous place to be. It doesn’t seem logical that the best solution to this issue is yet another dangerous, inconvenient stop light that results in the exhaust from 36,500 lt. of fuel being discharged into the atmosphere each year.

If you really want to do something for the environment and human safety, I’m thinking about starting a new group called CRASH or… Concerned Residents Against Stoplights on Highways.

If you’re not too busy taking extra math classes, perhaps you could join me.

Jim Knight

Vernon