Math Helps People Think Better

Seth Godin writes:
Can you factor this?
If you're like most people, you get a little queasy at the thought. And when you were in tenth grade, you surely wondered why they were bothering you.
(the answer is (x-2) times (x-2), in case you were curious.)
It turns out that the real reason you needed to do this work was to be able to play with numbers in your head. Abstract numerical thought is an important skill among educated people.

My response:
Great analogy...except no queasiness ;)

Inspiring Students To Think ;)

This letter is reminiscent of a student who said:
"The reason I don't like your class is that it forces us to have to think!"

New York Times Letter
Latin? Try Basic Math
Published: May 25, 2009
To the Editor:
A May 19 letter suggested teaching Latin to make college diplomas more readable.
Although making sure that the college population gets a well-rounded education is a laudable goal, I, a professor of college math for more than 30 years, bemoan the fact that people cannot do simple arithmetic.
Many college students (and, yes, college graduates) cannot add fractions, multiply decimals or calculate the square footage of an L-shaped room (forget about calculus or higher math.)
These things are required in everyday life to convert recipes, calculate a sale price or buy an air-conditioner. Calculators are a bad substitute. They absolve the student from the requirement of thinking.
On a recent exam, a student complained to me not that the exam was too long or too hard — but that he had to think.
Arnold FischthalNew York, May 20, 2009
The writer is an assistant professor of mathematics at Queens College.

Response to Teach Your Children Well HuffPost

Confidence is often a result of effort and mistakes.. As a Math peak performance coach and a parent, my role is to help people to build their Math Confidence through knowledge, skills and attitude. Self-esteem in any discipline can be heightened by taking risks and making mistakes -- thereby growing wiser.
The huge attitudinal component associated with Math is twofold:
1. a grade of A is usually harder to achieve in Math than in other subjects. It is tough to be perfectionistic and be a Math student.
2. "When Are We Ever Gonna Use This Math?" is not posed because they so eager to use it, it"s a you-can't-make-me type of question?rather than "This is so cool " I can't wait to use it!!"
People confuse utility with critical thinking skills -- maybe the curriculum should be Excel spreadsheets. For now it's Algebra and Trig. Why did we read "The Odyssey"? It's just plain good for you like gym and vegetables.
Looking beyond grades and focusing on learning and effort is a great life lesson for students, parents, teachers and society at large.