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The 'ghost of mathematics': Uruguayan academies analyze the nation's struggles with the subject
🇺🇾 Uruguay /Culture & Society

The 'ghost of mathematics': Uruguayan academies analyze the nation's struggles with the subject

From El País · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Uruguayan academies are analyzing why the country struggles with mathematics education from early schooling through higher education.
  • Experts highlight the "ghost of mathematics" phenomenon, where children perceive the subject as difficult, leading to rejection and academic setbacks.
  • Addressing this requires early intervention, changing family and teacher perceptions, and making math more accessible for everyday life.

Uruguay faces persistent challenges in mathematics education, a problem that begins in early childhood and extends throughout students' academic careers, leading to significant learning gaps, dropouts, and a shortage of specialized teachers.

We must not hate mathematics, but rather love it.

— Roberto MarkariánMathematician Roberto Markarián's call for a changed perception of mathematics.

National academies of Engineering, Sciences, Medicine, and Economics recently convened to dissect this issue. Roberto Markarián, a mathematician and former rector of the University of the Republic, emphasized the critical need to foster a positive relationship with mathematics from a young age. He noted that children often develop a fear or dislike of the subject as they transition from preschool to primary school, perceiving it as inherently difficult.

"We must not hate mathematics, but rather love it," Markarián stated, encapsulating the sentiment that a fundamental shift in perception is required. He explained the "ghost of mathematics" concept, where students internalize the idea that the subject is complex, a notion that can be reinforced by parents and educators. This perception can hinder academic progress, with some studies indicating a decline in performance, particularly among girls, though the issue is not gender-specific.

We must worry about early education in mathematics and avoid rejection of the discipline.

— Roberto MarkariánMarkarián's emphasis on the importance of early intervention in math education.

Markarián acknowledged that mathematics' abstract nature, dealing with intangible concepts, presents inherent learning hurdles. He cited a simple algebraic problem as an example of the conceptual leap required beyond basic counting. However, he stressed that these difficulties should not lead to a sense of inevitability.

The ghost of mathematics appears.

— Roberto MarkariánMarkarián's description of how children begin to perceive math as difficult.

Instead, families and schools must cultivate a different connection with the discipline. Markarián urged for more open discussions about numbers and quantitative reasoning within families and communities. He also underscored the importance of understanding graphs and quantitative phenomena, not just for future mathematicians or scientists, but for navigating daily life and comprehending the world.

We must talk more about numbers and quantitative counting in families, among people, wherever.

— Roberto MarkariánMarkarián's suggestion for increasing familiarity with numbers in daily life.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El País in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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