Dr Biplab Pal
Often, my son rushes to complete his math assignments at the last moment, usually consisting of 30 or 40 multiple-choice questions. What surprises me, especially in advanced courses like AP or GT math, is that he often lacks a strong grasp of fundamental concepts. He has learned to answer questions mechanically without truly understanding the underlying principles. It’s as concerning as seeing students tackle trigonometry without understanding the purpose of sine and cosine functions.
This generation seems to have adopted a mindset focused solely on achieving an A grade, with little regard for truly learning the material. Any time saved by not engaging deeply with the subject is often spent on video games. As students advance to higher education, this lack of foundational knowledge becomes a significant hurdle, leading to struggles in math-related subjects and increased academic stress. Many students face anxiety and even depression, unable to cope with the gaps in their understanding, and are ultimately paying the price for shortcuts taken during school math.
This is becoming a widespread issue in the U.S. student community and needs urgent attention from school districts and educational boards. However, the focus often strays from genuine educational improvement, caught up instead in political debates. As a result, the responsibility falls heavily on parents to seek solutions. That’s one of the reasons I am building this community dedicated to robust math education, where parents and students can share ideas and find quality teachers. We need to come together to address these challenges and ensure a solid foundation in mathematics for the next generation.
Please join us by following the page.
( Dr Biplab Pal is a technology Entrepreneur and adjunct Professor in Information System at University of Maryland in Baltimore County. He has authored many books on AP Mathematics which are available in Amazon :https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B09WDGDT89 ).
