Why Are So Many Americans Spectacularly Bad at Math?

'The first step in solving a problem is recognizing there is one'

‘Will McAvoy’ quoted this brilliant line in Aaron Sorkin's drama series “The Newsroom.”

In the same episode, he went on explaining why America’s not the number one country in the world anymore.

One thing that he didn’t mention in that argument was the poor knowledge of math not just in the United States, but practically in every school across the world.

Sadly, that’s not a stereotype or over-generalization of the mathematical prowess of modern students; the statistics tend to be not in their favor.

The numbers don’t lie!

The results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that only 33 percent of eighth-graders tested proficient in math.

Americans perform worse in math than many of their international peers on the world stage.

In 2012, US teens came in 27th place in math, below their counterparts in Vietnam (no offense).

That’s very unfortunate, given that the United States has it all. From top universities—MIT, Harvard, and Oxford—to the global center of technology (read: Silicon Valley).

So why many Americans struggle with math? That’s putting it subtly! Why are so many Americans spectacularly bad at math? Let’s find out! 

Why Are So Many Americans Spectacularly Bad at Math?

The most plausible explanation of why most Americans are not proficient in math is the flaw in the educational system.

Math is very poorly taught and the education system for one is a mess.

The first thing that students think about math is memorization and indefinite hours of practice.

There’s a misconception that mathematics requires rote learning and it’s not entirely their fault.

The old education system uses an outdated curriculum that allows this kind of notion to exist and thrive among students.

In 2012, PISA conducted an assessment to learn how students approach math. The responses showed many students rely mostly on memorization.

While memorizing equations is important, it’s necessary to understand the underlying concepts behind it.

Math is about learning the fundamental concepts and grasping analytical knowledge. Students who are encouraged to think with a critical mindset perform better in math.

“What’s the point?”

There’s a big misconception among Americans students that they won’t have to apply mathematical skills in real life. They simply don’t see the value of learning math.

Moreover, average students in the US are very much oriented towards business. They see successful people around them without college degrees.

Hence, they are more focused on developing their interpersonal skills and acquiring technical skills that will help them to succeed in the business environment.

Also, millennials' interests have shifted more towards the entertainment industry. Those who work in technical industries are prone to job-hopping and always looking to start something of their own.

Only a few people choose highly technical careers and stick to it. And most of them do not have any use for mathematics beyond basic operations.

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