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BC Prof Suggests Young Children Need Less Formal Math, Not More

Posted by timothy on from the all-in-favor-say-pi dept.

DesScorp writes "Professor Peter Gray, a developmental psychologist and researcher at Boston College, recounts an experiment done in New Hampshire schools in 1929, where math was completely taken out of the curriculum of the poorest schools from the area until the sixth grade. The results were surprising; with just one year of math under their belts, the poor students did as well or better than students from better schools by the end of the sixth grade year, despite the fact that the better schools had math in their curriculum all throughout elementary school. Professor Gray thinks children are not mentally wired for the kind of formal math instruction that is taught in schools, and that we'd be better served by putting off the teaching of theory until the seventh grade. He scoffs at the notion that if children are failing with current levels of math instructions then we should double down and make them do more math in school."

8 of 427 comments (clear)

  1. I didn't need math... by nebaz · · Score: 5, Funny

    I graduated high school at 18 with no math, and I turned out fine. Next year, when I turn 16, I'll be able to drive, finally.

    --
    Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds.There upon the rainbow is the answer to a neverending story
  2. Re:most people arent wired for math by Zediker · · Score: 2, Funny

    For a second I though you meant the Parmesianians and curiously had a craving for italian food.

    --
    I love to slaughter the english language.
  3. Re:As someone who was better than average... by e2d2 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Verbatim also. Verboten? Well it should be.

  4. Re:As someone who was better than average... by flitty · · Score: 5, Funny

    We already are using the lowest common denominator enough,

    Aaaand you just confused all of these kids.

    --
    Whether or not there is some sort of god, I'm not supposed to say/god is a word and the argument ends there-Smog
  5. Re:As someone who was better than average... by PopeRatzo · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can say that reducing math further than it already is would dumb down school beyond the point of non-return.

    Here in the US, we have an entire state that believes you can teach US history without mentioning Thomas Jefferson, and biology without mentioning evolution.

    I think the point of no-return was reached for them some time ago.

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    You are welcome on my lawn.
  6. Re:As someone who was better than average... by asmith.atx · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is exactly why I'm going back to school to be a high school math teacher, that and the prestige

  7. Re:Many other explanations by oldhack · · Score: 2, Funny

    "It is humbling to have a PhD in Engineering, and not be able to understand Grade 6 math homework."

    Says the civil engineer. Pah!

    --
    Fuck systemd. Fuck Redhat. Fuck Soylent, too. Wait, scratch the last one.
  8. Re:Or could it be the way they're taught by russotto · · Score: 3, Funny

    That was in Russia - and is typical of elementary schools there - but I don't think that it's relevant. Unless, that is, you're willing to argue that American kids are somehow mentally deficient from birth...

    Ah, but what you don't realize is that Russian kids who didn't show any promise in math were taken away to special schools, taught in English, where they trained deep cover agents for use in espionage against America. It seems the FBI had learned that aptitude in math was a major red flag.