Math Should Not Be Taught In Schools

What is math? Is it the boring classes that you half stayed awake through in high school and barely scrapped by with a passing grade? In some respects yes. Math is a required subject that has many real world applications that are used in everyday life and interactions. But, math is much more than the numbers and formulas learned in school; math is a tool that can be used to enhance one's life. Math is a very difficult subject for many children because unlike English, where almost anything can be considered correct as long as the person backs up what they are saying with some sort of opinion or facts, math requires a single answer that is correct and there is no arguing whether the person got the question right or wrong. This can be deferential for many children because they find math to be boring so they in turn do not put forth the required effort to make high grades. Professor Brian Schmidt, the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize recipient for physics, says that "many students are unaware that closing the door on mathematics at school would limit their future career options" showing that math takes on a more important role in student's life than just grades in a classroom(Macdonald 3).

That may be well in their mind and they indeed may not ever need to use advanced calculus in their profession as a painter, but what they do not realize is the potential that mathematics has to teach them something much more useful to life than how to compute numbers. That is critical thinking and problem solving. History may be the preferred subject of many students because of the lack of real thinking it entails. Remembering dates and names is quite difficult, but recalling a fact is not thinking. Think is a process that often involves periods of great difficulty. Math aids students in developing this skill that will allow them to become more successful members of