Mason  🏃‍♂️ ✂️

Didn't intend my original tweet to be particularly aggressive, so apologies if it came off that way. I'm sure I agree with lots of criticisms you have of the school system (different country, probably similar drawbacks). I also worry that parents don't understand fully...

...which bits of the curriculum they can cut out without it impacting their kids down the line. Kids who get the idea that they're bad at maths carry it with them - the idea that learning history somehow makes up for that seems like a confirmation of that lack of understanding.

You're not being aggressive. I'm being aggressive. There is no way for me to convey through text how disturbing I find it when someone anywhere near child education indicates they'd rather see a parent force an unhappy early education than let their child learn what they like.

Do you know why so many children and adults hate math? Nothing about it is inherently aversive, though it is tricky— in large part because it's taught as a utility kit rather than an area of study. Few people know any real math. It's force, leading to trauma, netting mathphobes.

Wouldn't disagree with you (and I loved maths)! I would add that a lot of people dislike math because they believe they are bad at it, and THAT comes (often) from falling behind at some point and not catching up.

Falling behind *what*? There is absolutely nothing within mathematics that tells a child that they are too slow or too stupid. That's what adults do when they create an environment where children compete directly and are under immense pressure to not request help.

I mean, sure, but also that's the system that's there, so parents should probably spend a bit of time on those maths worksheets!

Parents don't want to spend time on those worksheets because nobody wants to spend time on those worksheets. They don't make any sense for anyone. If you don't understand what multiplication *is*, paper is a terrible place to start. If you do, use a calculator.