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[quote=Anonymous]I read this WaPo column with interest -- http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/the-problem-with-math-education/2012/01/12/gIQAbhx5vP_blog.html?wprss= . The column claims that not only is the US lagging at the bottom end of the spectrum, but even the top 10% of US students do not compare favorably to many other nations.  Let's just accept without debating it that the US needs to do a better job teaching math and science to its students.  So what's lacking?  What is preventing schools from doing better at teaching these subjects?  The author's proposed solution -- "My experience leads me to believe that the most effective methods involve knowledgeable teachers with a passion for the material, and a set of expectations which are as hard as possible, while attainable" -- strikes me a vague, ambiguous, and weak.  This is not something I've ever researched, so I'm hoping some people here who know more than I do can help guide me.

NB: I'm really NOT looking for yet another debate over Everyday Math or other specific curricula.  Those don't seem to be the answer to the question I'm proposing, because many different schools in the US and elsewhere have used several different curricula for many years, with little clear change in the end results.  It seems the reasons need to be more fundamental than that.

My initial guess (without research) is that it can't be simply a question of finding "knowledgeable teachers with a passion for the material" because K-12 math is just not that complicated, and so plenty of teachers should be able to teach it effectively.  Maybe there just aren't enough good teachers to go around?  I guess that's possible, but it would suggest the US is also lagging in other areas besides math & science.  Maybe there also is an issue of math and science not being "cool" so that children have less interest and motivation to learn.

I'm all ears.  Help please.

Sam2[/quote]

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