The Mathematical Miseducation of American's Youth
By Michael Battista

     Michael Battista wrote an article about the miseducation of math that America's youth are receiving. It is a very torrid article about what is happening in math classrooms in America and the reluctance to chance, in fact, they want to go back to the way it was! Battista says that Americans suffer from "talkshow/tabloid" way of thinking. Americans are willing to base their arguments on information from ill informed or sensationalized media. We live in a time where people in the media are not always held to the highest standards and a lot of 'news' is sensationalized. In short, we live in an age of irresponsible journalism. The internet has exposed the world to unimaginable amounts of resources and information. With this mass wealth of knowledge and information, how do people discern what is credible and what is not? Unfortunately, we live in a world where people do not take the time to back up their thoughts or arguments with facts or sometimes even logical. We live in a world where one's own opinion is the most important. Michael Battista discusses some of these ideas in his article "The Mathematical Mideducation of America's Youth".
     There is an emergence that wants mathematical education to go back to the basics. They claim that reform mathematics has been a failure, meanwhile, never admitting that traditional ways were none too successful. Battista compares this argument with the likes of medical care. You would not seek medical care from a doctor who is using outdated skills, so why would you want your children educated with outdated educational practices?
     Traditions mathematical education involves memorization and using procedure that have little or no meaning to the student....it is all very forgettable. Traditional mathematics does not use any of the latest scientific research findings. Battista states,"The mathematic ignorance of our citizenry seriously handicaps our nation in a competitive and increasingly global marketplace." We live in a shrinking world. We live in a world where parts of super computers are built on different continents and then put together on an entirely different continent and then the OS is installed on a different continent. One machine more well traveled than the average math student. My point is that the world is shrinking and the local market is not down the street anymore. We are competing in a world of billions now, not just against the kids down the street. We need to ensure that our students are receiving the very best mathematical education to compete in the ever competitive job market. America needs mathematicians, engineers for our future. Not only do our youth deserve a good mathematical education, they deserve it.
     Battista points out that people are very willing to admit that they are not good at math, but they would not be as willing to admit that about reading. Why is math the lesser of the two important subjects in the eyes of many? Many students are only taught a very surface level of mathematics. It is very forgettable. After reading the article, it made me think that math classrooms are like factories. They expect the same results done in the same manner. But not all students think the same way!! Jean Piaget showed that students need to construct their own knowledge. How do they do this? By working, thinking, bouncing ideas off other students, being frustrated and being successful. Students need to understand procedures and equations, not just how to use them. No two students think a like, but they are taught in the same manner. When students are offered various ways of learning, different methods and allowed to put their hands not only their heads into, they really start to learn. Students need to learn, not memorize.

Read the article here: Battista article