A recent survey conducted by P.I.S.A (Program for International Students
Assessment of the O.E.C.D.Countries; US based international organization) has
demonstrated the startling fact that American students, especially in middle and
high schools, lag very far behind in proficiency in mathematics, compared to
others. While countries such as even Finland had very high scores among a list of
29 richest (O.E.C.D) countries in the world, Americans were ranked 24th.
This is a brief article looking at the possible reasons of the state of affairs in
mathematics in U.S.A.
1. The way of teaching Mathematics in American schools
The methods of teaching maths in the US, depend to a great extent on getting the
students prepared to face a number of standardized tests such as the SAT for
example. It has been found that most maths teachers devote a major part of of
their efforts and time in preparing the students to face those tests. The impression
is created that if you can do well and clear the tests, you are considered good in
maths.Most often, especially in recent years, it has been found these standardized
tests have become far too easy. These tests therefore can not be judged as a
good criteria to encourage real learning of mathematics. There is another big
disadvantage for this type of teaching maths.And that is that does not really help
the middle and high school students to cultivate and encourage or enhance their
innate abilities to think in an original way. This kind of original thinking with
initiative is essential to do well in Maths especially when you get problems to
be solved with a sense of practical life applications and not just to repeat what
you have learned in the class rooms.
2. The non availability of a sufficient number of properly qualified teachers
in mathematics.
It has also been reported and some studies revealed that there is a good amount
of shortage of properly and suitably qualified teachers in mathematics in
American schools. As a result of this, existing teachers are often loaded with a lot
of additional work. This has led to another issue that the teachers have not been
able to concentrate well on the students. They are not able to give more and
much needed better attention to several of the students to help them to increase
their abilities to think with clear objectives. Obviously this a major reason why the
proficiency of Americans in maths has been falling behind in comparison to many
others.
3. Lack of sufficient interest in mathematics
In the primary classes many students develop a good attitude and interest to
learn mathematics. However as they go up in the ladder to higher classes from
elementary to middle and high schools, their interest in subjects such as
mathematics has been found to be on the decline. This can be attributed to the
lack of poor teaching and in the remarkable reduction in the number and quality
of sufficiently stimulating and challenging assignments and topics given to
them. Once students lose interest in a subject, it is quite difficult to get back them
on and motivate them to achieve better performance and skill levels.
4. Lack of orientation to practical aspects of mathematics
In the teaching of an important subject such as maths, it is necessary to explain to
the students the many many wonderful sides of mathematics and its great daily-
life practical applications. This can bring the student's attention to the great need
of getting a high proficiency in maths both in scoring well in their tests as well as
to meet the challenges in future and daily life. This will bring the young brains to
be highly interested in maths.At present,this aspect is neglected.Hence waning of
interest and very poor proficiency in maths.
There are also possibly other reasons due to having different school systems(
public,private etc),along with the diversities in student population.
