We spend five or six hears teaching nothing more than basic math, four functions, some rudimentary fractions and geometry, then a couple of years doing just basic algebra. I've always felt this is too little too slowly. Algebra is the reading equivalent of Dr. Seuss, IMHO.
If you can get kids doing interesting algebra problems, I think there would be more interest in math. There is nothing special about calculus that a high school kid can't grasp, but by the time they are in high school, they are convinced that math is hard.
Math is fun. Girls can like it, too. My wife also has a degree in mathematics.
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Mathematics is no more difficult than it used to be, but the interest in learning it in the United States has fallen off considerably. The emphasis on sports in the American culture has lead to a decline in interest in science and mathematics. Even though only a few hundred people will be able to play professional sports in the United States in any given year, millions of children dream of becoming sports stars.
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Mathematics is the mother of all the science, commerce, and arts subjects. So it is very important for the kids to learn mathematics. If the kids in the US are not caring about it then they are in great trouble because we have to use mathematics in our day to day life. Take this statistic for example. China is training some 300,000 or so engineers every year, while the U.S., only has a pitiful 60,000. True, China may have the edge in population, but the U.S., should have an upper edge over them with all the money we have to fund education. For example when buying something we have to use mathematics regarding the cost and the return that you will get.
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It's part of a general decline in standards in schools and universities in most of the English-speaking countries. Incidentally, I share the concerns expressed about the obsession with sport. It's almost become a disease.
I'd add that it's also important that voters in democratic countries should have a basic knowledge of statistics.
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For some, math can become a bit difficult, and then stop caring for it. For others, they could just not care about their grades and such. Both vary.
First answer by Scootwhoman. Last edit by Angel of Anime. Contributor trust: 5 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 55 [recommend question]
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