Why People Hate Math - A Problem with K-12 Education

I remember President Obama once saying something like this in an informal conversation: "I used to be able to tutor Malia in math, but I had to stop once she started Algebra.". I really hope he didn't say that as a president, but I cannot blame him.

When I came to this country to study for my Ph.D. in mathematics at an American college in 1990, I realized that college freshmen were mostly struggling with algebra—a subject that should have been mastered in middle school in other countries. That was thirty-five years ago, and I don’t see that anything has changed. In fact, our K–12 education outcomes may have become worse. Measured every year at different levels, we see that our education system has been constantly failing students.

I always hear people say how hard math is or that they themselves are not good at it. Who is to blame for this idea that "Americans are not good at math"? Let’s figure it out. In most other countries, mathematics is treated as fundamental training for children from a very young age. And when I say training, I really mean it. It takes time and effort to master and memorize, both of which require repeated practice—drill after drill. There is no substitution for that. So that's reason number one - hard work.

I also observed that the U.S. education system emphasizes fun in learning, even in mathematics. I think that’s a totally wrong approach. Normally, you cannot have fun while working hard. In other words, you cannot get both at the same time. Studying requires focus, attention, and a quiet place, because learning a hard subject also involves deep thinking. Common sense? Maybe not in this country. That’s reason number two.

Reason number three, I think, is politics. Since the 1960s, people have been divided into groups by race, gender, and other artificial categories. Sometimes even school subjects get divided along these lines. No one says one race is smarter or dumber than another, but these divisions end up discouraging learning instead of encouraging it among some groups. Those dividers are called DEI which emphasize on equal outcomes without equal efforts. That can only get things go to one direction - downhill.

Let's free ourselves from those silly ways of thinking and get back to common sense—let children understand why Stephen Curry became an NBA shooting star: drill after drill. The human brain is a God-given gift, and it should and can be challenged and stimulated to learn quickly when we are young. Don’t wait. No more excuses.

Just one more thing: learning math only requires a pen and paper—no electronic devices. Once you are not afraid of math, believe me—you won’t be afraid of any subject. I promise!