Saturday, October 11, 2008
Why is the USA content to be stupid??
A story in the New York Times caught my eye: Math Skills Suffer in U.S., Study Finds.
The story goes on to say how we are failing to develop math skills of boys and girls ESPECIALLY AMONG THOSE WHO COULD EXCEL AT IT.
From the Times Article:
A major reason, according to the study, is that American culture does not highly value talent in math, and so discourages girls — and boys, for that matter — from excelling in the field.
A Study done by the American Mathematical Society: Cross-Cultural Analysis of Students with Exceptional Talent in Mathematical Problem Solving goes even further saying:
So there you have it ... it's just not cool to be smart.
Many USA-born white and historically underrepresented minorities who are gifted in mathematics do not participate in MATHCOUNTS®, AMC examinations, or, even, school mathematics clubs and teams. When asked why, a typical response is, “Only Asians and nerds do math (extracurricularly).” In other words, it is deemed uncool within the social context of USA middle and high schools to do mathematics for fun; doing so can lead to social ostracism. Consequently, gifted girls, even more so than boys, usually camouflage their mathematical talent to fit in well with their peers.
It makes me angry, it makes me sad. I just don't understand it. Why is it cool to be ignorant?? I can't say it's that everyone is so self absorbed to care about the world around them .... because I'm willing to bet the last season of American Idol saw more votes cast then will likely be cast in the upcoming election. It just seems that everyone is distracted about things that don't really matter.
It doesn't make any sense ... it seems counter intuitive .... on an evolutionary scale .... why does it matter who got voted off the island .... or who will be the next super model??? It's like mosquitoes being drawn to the the bug zapper. Why is our country so preoccupied with the "bright and shiny" to the detriment of useful knowledge when it will eventually lead to our demise?
Don't get me wrong ... I'm not so much of a nerd that I read ONLY math books for entertainment .. I like watching Football, Soccer, Basketball, Women's Beach Volleyball.
But I know what's important. I question the world around me ... why stuff works the way it does ... I don't believe everything I hear with out researching it more ... and I sit here and write about the things I don't understand in the hopes that someone with the answers will read this someday and share that knowledge with me.
#posted by Rob Roschewsk @ 9:28 PM
Comments:
It's the rise of the religious right.
Ignorance is bliss, remember. That's why Adam and Eve were ejected from the garden of Eden, for eating of the tree of knowledge. And that's why Satan is evil; he offers knowledge and free will.
Can't run a pyramid scheme if people know too much. An intelligent populace that can do math would never allow the future of their children to be mortgaged by billionaire CEOs, or contribute to a charity that already controls $50 trillion in assets.
Feeling anxious? Pop a pill and wash it down with a 5000 calorie fast food meal. You'll feel better in no time.
