By The Associated Press

Washington

More math, please.

A large majority of Americans think schools are placing too much emphasis on the wrong subjects, and more than half think they're doing just a fair job in preparing children for the work force or giving them the practical skills they need to survive as adults, according to an Associated Press poll released June 27.

So what do people think the schools should focus on?

More than a third said math. English was a distant second, at 21 percent. A tiny fraction picked art, music and the sciences, such as biology and chemistry.

"I don't think math is getting nearly enough attention," said Larry Michalec of San Diego, who has a grown daughter. "When was the last time you added up something without a calculator?"

Parents may want more math in school because they feel unprepared to help at home, said Janine Remillard, who teaches math-related courses at the University of Pennsylvania's education school.

"Math is the subject that parents are often intimidated by," she said. "We've allowed a lot of kids to just say, 'I'm not good at math,' .... and those kids become parents."

The economy and gas prices are the most important issues facing the country, according to those surveyed. Education was rated after those issues, generally viewed to be as important as health care. It was rated slightly ahead of the Iraq war.

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