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Monday, October 13, 2008
Do we need more nerds?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This should be of little surprise: U.S. schools fail to develop students’ math skills, especially in children who have the potential to master it.
A new study published in the Notices of the American Mathematical Society also found when students, especially girls, succeed in math they are often the children of immigrants who come from countries where math skills are prized.
Some would argue part of the problem here is students who excel in math (and science) are teased and called nerds or worse.
Many math experts have said teachers must find a way to get kids to see how exciting and important math is. Without strong math skills, this country will never produce another generation of mathematicians, engineers or scientists, experts say.
Why is nerd considered an evil four-letter word? How do you increase the value we place on math?
