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Teaching Mathematics in America

In the United States, we are falling behind in mathematics.  Studies show that our technology prowess is waning.  Where we used to be #1, we are now in the top 10-15 nations.  The problem, in large part, is due to the lack of qualified scientists and engineers.  This leads us to the question, “What is causing the “meltdown”?

The main driving factors are the inadequate supply of qualified math teachers, universities that reward research over teaching, the counter culture of math, and lack of parental math responsibility. 

Math Teacher Supply   

It is indeed difficult to find a good math teacher. The are three main  forces that slows the supply of teachers:

1. People good at math can make a lot of money elsewhere.  Many of societies top jobs rely on a having a good mathematics background.  Those who are the best will often take corporate and research jobs where they will make the most money.  This fact, alone, lets the truly best be “skimmed off the top” by corporate America.  Math teachers must be paid as much, or more, than corporate America in order to retain competitive supply.   

1. Many people that excel at math are not necessarily the best at      communication.  Many times teachers are hired for their math skills and not so much for communication skills.  A person with communication and math skills is truly talented and should be sought after diligently.  The communication gap makes it more difficult to properly find qualified teachers.

1. It’s a truly hard job.  There is a lot of material to be presented.  Have you ever wondered why a good math teacher is always so busy writing on the board and helping students?  It’s a hard job.  I think I’d rather teach typing or history.  Even non math teachers can easily see that teaching math is the most difficult subject.  This difficulty drives many from the field.  Still, others may succumb to poor teaching in frustration.

Teacher Supply Bottom Line

Good teachers must be sought after with diligence and paid more than similar careers in industry.  Teaching math is a very difficult job that has a high value in society.  We should treat it as such.  Finally, we should remember that good teaching involves communication; not just math ability.

 
Universities that Reward Research Over Teaching

The top motivation for any research professor is to publish.  It is even the mantra of higher education professors; publish or perish.  Assume you are a professor looking for an assistant.  You will certainly want to find the most qualified person. 

The sad part is that the most qualified people are usually from China or India.  Very few students, in graduate programs, around the country, are from the United States.  You can’t exactly blame the professors because they are getting the best research assistants they can find.

Research assistants are attracted to graduate programs by the fellowship or $ being offered to them. In return for their pay, the university requires them to teach undergraduate classes.  This is a very real trend throughout the United States.

The Real Pain

The real pain, put out by the university, is that undergraduates are trying to learn mathematics from foreign speakers.  Let’s see.  We take the most difficult subject, the most important subject, and leave it to foreign research assistants. 

What happens?  Usually, the students have no idea what the professor is even talking about.  Many of these foreigners can’t even say a simple understandable phrase in English. 

The Results

The students try to learn the information on their own.  Some are successful, but most are not.  The majority of those majoring in engineering and science change their majors or drop out.  Many good students simply don’t want to sit in classes for four years listening to someone that can’t speak the language.  The university gets a research assistant paid for by the students and the students get to pick a different major or drop out. Sound like a bum deal!

Bottom Line

I wouldn’t ask China to hire me for a math teaching fellowship when I couldn’t speak Chinese.  If they let me, anyway, I might say yes, but secretly think they are incompetent.  Teachers must be native speakers.  The Toefl is a joke.  I can’t tell you how many people can pass that test, but not communicate worth a darn.  

Counter Culture

It’s not cool to be good at math.  Math and nerd are synonymous.  Math people are known for not having friends and not having a very fun life.  Math is known for being boring and just not fun. 

The culture is derived from the systemic problems in math.  Too many people are let down by our schools and don’t understand its importance.  I have even heard math teachers say, “Don’t worry, you’ll never use this stuff except to pass this class.”  There is a pervasive attitude that it is meaningless rote work. 

What most people don’t realize is that math is the foundation of technology and that a large part of the most rewarding jobs require a stellar math background.

Bottom Line 

We should make an effort to make being good at math cool.  There needs to be a nationwide marketing campaign to change peoples math attitudes.  Too many students don’t bother giving it a real try because of its incorrectly perceived status.  I’ll go out for football.  Who cares about the math club?

Lack of Parental Math Responsibility

The schools job is to teach my child.  Therefore, I don’t need to worry about them learning.  This is one of the most incorrect and least effective attitudes.  Teaching is up to the parents.  The school is simply something to help you. 

Nearly all students learn how to read and write.  Many students never do really learn math.  Parents have a responsibility to make sure their children understand math concepts at an early age.  It is amazing how large a difference it makes having a parent that consistently works with the children.  Parents that don’t take the time to work with their children daily are being neglectful. 

Nearly every math genius, from the beginning of time, was home schooled by someone that really cared about education.  Nearly any child, in fourth or fifth grade, can be doing up through algebra 2 and calculus.  It is simply a matter of priorities.