[Serious] What are your overall opinions on people who are idiots in math?

[arewethereyet]

A perspective:

“Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best, he is a tolerable subhuman who has learned to wear his shoes, bathe, and not make messes in the house.”

― Robert Heinlein

In my experience, there are very few people who *cannot* do math. There are many that are not willing to put in the work required (whether due to lack of interests, lack of time, lack of good resources, etc). And it may well take going back to elementary school and really learning arithmetic before tackling algebra, trig, and calculus.

But it is also true that for many people the amount of time spent in learning the language of math will have minimal reward. Anything through algebra is simply learning the alphabet. Calculus is basic reading. It is only much later that you get to good literature and poetry.

I really think my math issues go back to my HS experience.  Even several of the super smart kids in my class were being tutored by the older brother of one of them who obviously knew how to teach.

The first time I attempted Algebra, I passed the first semester and failed the second.  The next year I signed up again and requested the other Algebra teacher who seemed to be able to teach to even the dimmest in our grade.  Instead, I was put back with Sr. Francis...no amount of begging on my part would change the minds of the admin.  Again, I passed the first semester and flunked the second.  So I spent two school years to get 1/2 a credit.

I know I use Algebra when I am doing certain bookkeeping tasks and also when I design quilts.  I refuse to refer to it as Algebra though.  I think I have math PTSD.