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Wed, 04 Mar 2026 06:13:50 -0800
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Math and science in US
https://hechingerreport.org/math-learning-arkansas-united-states-culture/
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TEACHER VOICE: We don’t have a math problem in Arkansas or in the United States. We have a culture problem
The good news is that we can fix it, one math problem and one mindset at a time.
by Mark Bauer March 2, 2026
The American workforce expects an unmet need for over a million employees to fill STEM-related jobs by 2030. Credit: Allison Shelley for EDUimages
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For 23 years, I’ve taught high school math. And for 23 years, I’ve been told by people that they either are a “math person” or they are not.
I get it: Math isn’t easy. Movies and TV shows make it look effortless for a select few. But math is hard work. If you don’t do the work, and if you don’t
have a teacher who can help you build the math skills you need, you may struggle with math. Then you might internalize these challenges into the idea that
you’re not a “math person.”
Research shows, however, that the idea of “math people” is a myth. In his book “How We Learn,” the neuroscientist Stanislas Dehaene refutes the notion
that some brains are uniquely “wired” for math. He writes that all people have “the same initial brain structure, the same core knowledge, and the same
learning algorithms” for reading, science and math. All people can learn to do math.
Related: A lot goes on in classrooms from kindergarten to high school. Keep up with our free weekly newsletter on K-12 education.
Where people differ is their mindset. Some people have what Stanford professor Carol Dweck refers to as a “fixed mindset,” or a belief that intelligence or
talent is set in stone. When they fail, they see it as proof they lack ability, so they often avoid challenges or give up easily. Other people have a “growth
mindset,” or a belief that intelligence and ability can develop through effort, feedback and learning. People with this mindset view mistakes as part of the
process. Challenges are chances to improve. The growth mindset is how most people approach a video game. You don’t know what you are getting into, you try
your best and if you fail, you know more and try again.
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I teach geometry in Arkansas, and of all the tests the state administers, students perform most poorly on the geometry exam. My colleagues and I at Rogers High
School — plus a bevy of research — are proving that this poor performance is not because some students cannot learn math.
My four colleagues on the geometry team and I were able to support our students in exceeding their expected growth goals. We attained these results by believing
that our students can do geometry and by getting them to believe the same.
Stanford math professor Jo Boaler proved what’s possible with an innovative study that showed how an online course could change student ideas about learning
mathematics and their own potential.
More than 1,000 students from four schools took the course — and it shifted their ideas about whether intelligence is changeable. Boaler told Frontiers, a
science news outlet, that targeting students’ beliefs about math “led to students feeling more positive about math, more engaged during math class, and
scoring significantly higher in mathematics assessments.”
Related: PROOF POINTS: A little parent math talk with kids might really add up, a new body of education research suggests
While I work as hard as I can for all 178 days of the school year, helping students believe in their capability to do math, especially geometry, also requires
support outside of the classroom.
Parents, we need your help. This idea of some people having a “math brain” comes up often at parent-teacher conferences. Adults will say that they are
“not good at math,” or are not a “math person,” which can have a negative effect on how their kids see their own capabilities.
Parents, you can have a positive effect if you adjust how you talk about math, including your own struggles. Acknowledge challenges in school and what could
have helped you view the challenges as opportunities. It is important for kids to hear their parents talk about working through problems instead of giving up. I
was fortunate to have parents who owned a small business, because I got to witness them struggle through problems and find solutions.
Encourage your kids to develop a growth mindset. Talk about and teach the behaviors that can support your kids’ learning and growth. These include investing
time in the work and engaging with teachers during class or tutoring to learn how to better understand mathematical concepts. Problem-solving is a learned
skill, so point out how math shows up in daily life and that your kids often solve problems without even recognizing it.
It is imperative that we show dramatic math improvement across the country. Trouble is on the horizon: The American workforce expects an unmet need for over a
million employees to fill STEM-related jobs by 2030. Yet student performance is lower today than it was before the pandemic. The National Assessment of
Educational Progress, known as the Nation’s Report Card, reported that the achievement gap in 8th grade math last year was the largest in the history of the
exam.
But again, we don’t have a math problem in Arkansas or in the United States. We have a culture problem in that math is viewed negatively and stereotypes
abound. The good news is that we can fix it by addressing mindsets.
As I say to my students every day, thank you for your time.
Mark Bauer teaches math at Rogers High School in northwest Arkansas.
Contact the opinion editor at opinion@hechingerreport.org.
This story about teaching math was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in
education. Sign up for Hechinger’s weekly newsletter.
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Wed, 04 Mar 2026 06:18:35 -0800
whiteguyinchina from private IP
Reply #19884762
My daughter takes a free science class at a local university here. Taught by actual PhD students and supervised by professors. Lunch provided for free. No cost
to us.
I talked with the prof /chinese bro/ about it. Out of 20 spots they have about 12 enrolled.
It was lame. Its an amazing resource but no one cares.
Don't get me started on the demographics. 60% Asian or East Asian. 20% African American. 10% Caucasian. More than half of the kids come from an immigrant
household.
Good luck competing with Chinese or Indian kids, champ. Get those HB1 visa slots ready.
Was actually quite sad about this.
Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:49:44 -0800
marlon from private IP
Reply #14637491
wanna stay a virgin forever? carry a book with u
Sun, 08 Mar 2026 10:04:29 -0700
doublefriedchicken from private IP
Reply #19607476
I wasn’t a bad student but math was my worst subject until high school. I made a C in geometry.
Sun, 08 Mar 2026 11:39:22 -0700
zerosugar from private IP
Reply #12399265
I was pretty scared of math in elementary school and high school for the simple fact that EVERYBODY talked about how hard it was! My grades were mostly Bs and
C. When I got in undergrad, I made all As. However, I would have never majored in it for the simple fact that I believed it was too hard. We sort of have a
culture here of instilling fear when it comes to math and that can make a subject even harder. In other countries, they don't have this same fear. In Europe,
many people excel at math and it's their best subject I noticed. I rarely meet math people in the USA.
Mon, 09 Mar 2026 17:24:39 -0700
phosita from private IP
Reply #16955005
I chap I knew as an undergrad was in Operations Research, easily one of the smartest dudes I met, a supra-wily intellect. He went really really deep into upper
level math stuff, the two disciplines having lots of overlap. All to say that this feller could math pretty hard.
He told me that the people who, according to him, were *actually* good at math and were majoring in math were joking-not-joking told to consider another major
if they got a non-A grade in any of the classes.
Homie writes the software for scheduling airline crews, maintenance, all that sort of thing. Just sits in his office and Contemplates, I guess.
Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:40:15 -0700
whiteguyinchina from private IP
Reply #19192879
Interesting. I was also scared off of mayh but its just a matter of teaching it right. Like my high school teachers were probably lousy math students at some
lousy college. They sucked at math as well.
Very rarely will you find a good math teacher.
I knew lots of dumb people who majored in sciences. But they could study.
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