Why are we Afraid of Math?

No one likes math. As a teacher, I have always been told by children and adults “I don't do math”. People avoid math like their least favorite vegetable. All math teachers have experienced that group dinner where no one knows how much tip to add to the check, and they stare at you like you're hosting jeopardy, and you have all the answers. The question is why are we terrified of numbers? When we're in our primary grades, we jump at the chance to show we know the answer to a math question. We strive to get all the questions correct and show that off to anyone who will look. So what happens to us that we become so frightful of numbers and calculation?

We're not born with a fear of math. While content does become more challenging as we age, social norms are equally influential in forming our mindset on math. The negative posture and statements of others, along with the general stereotype of not being a math person, become common acceptance. The perception grows that math is only for a certain exclusive group of minds, and the rest of the world shouldn't dare explore their abilities in this area. Doubt in one's aptitude and fear of failure become standard. A study shows that approximately 93% of Americans indicate that they experience some level of math anxiety. As with all things, anxiety limits our ability to perform, but it is not a reflection of a lack of understanding. A study by Education Week states that 4 out of 5 students who experience math anxiety are average to above average performers. Meaning that aptitude or lack thereof is no sign of whether a student will have anxiety. The impact of such anxiety is an increasing rejection of engagement in math practice and activities. Over time this creates a self-fulfilling construct where the lack of engagement creates a lag in acquisition of skills. The irony is that there is a level of complacency with rejecting math as a subject. I can't imagine that someone could reject reading in the same way. No one goes to a restaurant and hands the menu to another person and says I'm not really a reading person.

The narrative needs to change about learning math in primary and secondary education. USA Today references the latest results of an international exam given to teenagers that ranked the USA 31st in math literacy out of 79 countries. Another study by the NSF shows that achievement scores from 2007 to 2019 have been essentially flat, while the gap widened between high-performing and low performing students. Those failures also disproportionately impact children of color. Our children need to be taught that mathematics is about how we think and problem solve. There are various strategies that can boost confidence and alleviate anxiety. Discussing the math in different visuals and real-life situations, providing more interactive engaging lessons, addressing math anxiety directly. Changing our children's perspective on math empowers them to take charge of their own learning. They can learn to approach math in their own way at their own pace, and determine what tools work for them.