As one of the seemingly few who has always loved math, Carolyn Johnson's article about Hollywood's "math problem" spoke to me; Indeed it seems all too common that people take pride in their inability to do even basic arithmetic; But math plays an important role in many aspects of our society; When elections are won on economic promises, how can one make an informed decision if they have no concept of number sense;
Ms. Johnson points out how the so-called math problem diverges from what we might see as a language problem; While being bad at math is a boastful opportunity, a narrow vocabulary is not seen in a similar light; Nor, I imagine, is illiteracy;
I prefer to compare the math problem to a grammar problem; I don't have to know how to properly use a semicolon in my everyday writing because no one expects me to; But that semicolon is calculus, and no one is asking you to master it;
Having no number sense would be similar to never constructing a proper sentence; But we do pretty well when it comes to using commas, and periods, and quotation marks; So let's make sure we give math its commas, and periods, and quotation marks and give it the chance it deserves; And you can leave the calculus to me; And I'll leave the semicolons to you;
