In the article from Lesser & Blake (2007), they bring up the problems with mathematic pedagogy. Their arguments are that mathematic teaching lacks political, social/cultural, and historical connections. Early in the article they also highlight how the idea that students are unable to learn math is a self fulfilling prophesy. Although the connection to cultural ideas (like the disproportional Barbie) and political issues (like the death penalty) are a helpful ways for children to learn, I do not think that the lack of these real-life examples are the only reason why math is stereotyped as incomprehensible.
The reason why students have such a hard time learning math is because of the teachers themselves. I'm not saying that all math teachers are bad at teaching but I have two theories in addition to Lesser & Blake (2007). First, the masters of the field go on to becoming nuclear engineers, physicist, governmental statistical analysts, ect. Secondly, math teachers think that some students are incapable of learning math because they do not understand the way that they think. Since they love math and it comes easy to them they just assume that you are the same and if you aren't than their is something wrong with you and you do not have the mental capacity for it. They do not understand that the things that they think are common sense are not common sense to everyone who is not primarily left brained.
Why do you think math is hard for students to learn?
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