Editorial: Can math, gambling really mix?

Friday, Aug. 10, 2001 | 10:04 a.m.

The Clark County School District may consider what certainly would be a novel approach to inform students about gambling's dangers, but it surely wouldn't be without controversy if it goes forward. As the Sun's Terry Webster reported Thursday, public schools are considering a proposal that would allow students taking math courses to learn about the actual odds associated with gambling. The plan comes from a curriculum developed by the Harvard Medical School's Division on Addictions, which is funded in part by a gaming industry group. Problem gambling is something that deserves greater attention than it currently receives, but it's questionable whether a math course is the right forum.

The purpose of using gambling-related math problems isn't to encourage more gambling, according to those who back the project. Instead, they say, the intent of the course is to eliminate some of the mystique from gambling through math questions. That way students will know, for instance, that the odds of rolling a six on a die are low -- only about 17 percent. Teaching students the real-world odds of gambling also would lead to discussions about compulsive gambling and its consequences, according to the program's proponents.

The inherent problem about teaching middle school students about the odds of gambling is that it could entice them to gamble -- something that is illegal until they turn 21. It's also fair to ask whether it's practical to weave the dangers of gambling into the lessons of a math course. It could end up diluting the impact of the message. Besides, math teachers may not want to devote too much time to the downside of an addictive behavior, considering it a distraction to what they're supposed to be doing, which is teaching math.

If the schools want to instruct students on the dangers of gambling, they should consult extensively with those professionals who deal with this problem daily -- psychologists and therapists who provide assistance to compulsive gamblers. Even more important, the schools should seek considerable input from parents before going forward. For that matter, the primary responsibility for addressing this issue with children rests with their parents, not with educators.

Public schools do have a role in addressing the dangers that students face now and later in life. The key is making sure that they do so appropriately.