Mathematics Case

I believe that we as Americans are statistically unstable when it comes to mathematics. According to a recent Bloomberg.com article, "Fifteen-year-olds in the United States ranked 25th among peers from 34 countries on a math test and scored in the middle in science and reading, while China's Shanghai topped the charts, raising concern that the U.S. isn't prepared to succeed in the global economy." Why is this you may ask? Three reasons including parenting skills, schooling techniques, and technology. The way you parent your children has a major effect on the outcome of their success in the future. If parents paid more attention, enforced homework and studying, and stressed the importance of a better education to their children more often; kids would be more likely to live a successful life and pull us out of this rut. Technology nowadays is too convenient. Having the world at the tip of your fingers with a cell phone, using a calculator to solve the simplest of equations, and plenty more toys that simply do all of the work for you without you gaining any knowledge of the subject. The people who have created these tools though are geniuses indeed, but at the same time who is going to take their place when they're gone? Nobody; due to the fact that people these days were not raised with the same discipline and morals by their parents and teachers as these older people who work for their success were. Teachers are just as responsible. They don't take the time out to help their students who are noticeably not making any progression and are a lot of the reason why this generation is failing in mathematics.

Parents these days don't motivate their children enough to succeed in school. There is no emphasis on just how important an education really is; therefore we are where we stand statistically. Parents need to buckle down, help their children with those problems they can't seem to understand, form good study habits, and insist that their children take advantage of the opportunity they have to even be enrolled in school. It is common is Asia that parents don't allow their child's friends come over and play after school; they are forced to sit down and study for hours. Students in America would bring home passing if not exceeding grades if they were forced to focus on academics as opposed to a social life. This relates to Americans in a way, those people you call nerds? The students who don't go to the football games, or have friends over because they're forced to work hard to accomplish the good grades that you think are unfair when progress reports come out. The parents who let these distractions get in the way of their child's academics are what make the United States as a whole look bad when it comes to Benchmark and Standards testing. Not to mention the parents who always have to blame the teacher for their child's bad grades. It is never the parent's fault for the child not finishing their homework on time, or asking their kids if they understand yet it is always the teacher. If parents were to take responsibility for not paying enough attention to their child's progress throughout the year, and asked them questions like "What did you learn in school today? Do you have homework?" there would be a less rate of failure in the country. Then again, why should only the parents be at fault? I believe the children are just as responsible if they do not speak up and ask for help if it is needed. If you do not understand you're math homework, ask for help! It's not hard to get a tutor. Although too often in the United States students are ashamed to ask for help because they feel like they would look stupid for not knowing the answer. This is where motivating your children is necessary.

Schools in America do not just focus on an education; they are filled with extra-curricular activities as well, such as sports and clubs. Whereas in other countries, schools are meant for learning only. Students in China for example are not allowed to participate in any extra-curricular activity unless it is either violin or piano lessons, which are proven to improve your mathematical skills. If and when these lessons get in the way of schooling and a bad grade is brought home, it is implied that you have brought shame upon your family and you are then punished. That is where discipline comes in the picture. When a student brings home a bad grade, they feel shame, and this then forces them to want to study harder to change that grade. Rather than in America when a child brings home bad grades they become discouraged, don't try and end up failing. This then ties back into parents not motivating their children enough to do better. In school, we are taught that our test scores are what help us get into college, and as a result all we are instructed is what is going to be on the high school exit exam. Teacher's rarely take the time out to thoroughly explain a subject, which is what students really need. As stated by Paradise Found, "It is possible in some states to pass the teacher certification exam (PRAXIS) without answering a single math question correctly." This is the reason why too many children in America no matter what their racial or economic backgrounds are failing at an age where strong math and science skills are necessary for even the most