Ignorance and disgust of math is a widespread problem in today’s society. This is one of the main reasons why people are prone to question scientific facts rather than support them. Mathematical ignorance and scientific illiteracy are profoundly embedded in many cultures in the world. It’s rare to find people joking about being unable to read, but a lot of them are taking pride in being bad with numbers. But which is the bigger issue?
Oddly enough, it seems that being weak in math doesn’t make you look stupid, even if it should. As William Thurston said, “mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations or algorithms; it’s about understanding.” Next to that, research has shown that the better a country is at math, the better it will be in the long run.
Learning and using math teaches people crucial ways of thinking and problem-solving. Ignoring math is as disabling, and perhaps more, than not knowing how to read. A mathematical mindset allows us to look at things logically. A crucial skill that can have a decisive impact, especially on our children’s school and professional careers, the pillars of a successful and happy life.
Picture: Albert Einstein - 1920 (Wikipedia)
