I love math, sometimes I get teased or greeted with strange looks when I talk about math while in the presence of others not so passionate about it, but those reactions won't stop me.
My dad had a brilliant mathematical mind, astounding us with the numbers he could manipulate in his head. I excelled in math in school and I have siblings who are teachers excited about sharing math with the next generation.
I remember how math was taught when I was in school and I know how it was when my first born began journeying through elementary school only a few short years ago.
We are now on a different course with my younger child. She is witty, bright, happy and frustrated. I know she can do math, but sometimes she doubts herself and sits at a table in front of textbook and paper for more than an hour trying to make sense of the "new" math. It is difficult to help her.
I take pride in my ability to understand mathematical concepts, but trying to understand her books can be extremely difficult and helping her to understand it is even more so. The concepts are interesting but some of the phrases are poorly written and the complicated methods to get a simple answer can be more confusing than helpful.
My siblings and I had an animated discussion at Christmas about the new math, looking at it from the point of view of teachers and parents. I've heard radio programs outlining the benefits of the new program and have heard the argument that with smart phones and other devices with calculators always at a person's fingertips there really is no need to memorize basic math facts.
I don't think I should need a calculator to walk through a store with $20 wondering what I can take home and what needs left behind. I remember someone asking my high school math teacher why they had to take math and we were able to name many ways to use math every day.
I can understand how the new math can help people to understand how some concepts work, but if a child knows how to add or subtract, multiply or divide they shouldn't have to be fluent in every possible method.
I didn't want to have to hear my daughter say the words "I can't do math" but I have. I know I should take responsibility for making sure she knows her basic facts but by the time she has spent time in math class and has finished her homework she has no desire to continue working with numbers and I worry I'll hear "I can't do math" over and over again.
