Key points:
- It’s possible to create a world where everyone is a “math person”
- Rethinking employability skills in K–12 education
- College readiness starts in kindergarten: Why rethinking K–12 math is the key
- For more news on math skills, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching hub
It’s quite rare to hear someone say, “I can’t read” or “I’m illiterate so I don’t read.” On the other hand, lots of people claim that they’re “not a math person.” The phrase isn’t just “I don’t like math.” It’s “I’m not a math person,” signifying that they don’t know how to do math, not just that they don’t like it. We believe this single sentiment is significantly impacting students’ perceptions of math in school and their efficacy with it in life. As educators, what we say matters, especially when talking in front of impressionable students.
Our central argument is that no one should be so comfortable with saying the statement: “I’m not a math person,” but we stress this even further for educators, which includes anyone who works in a school, has influence over students, and might say something like this in front of them. We’ve heard it before from teachers, school administrators, support staff, and district leaders. When a school official says this in front of students, the message is clear: Math is optional, even for successful adults. Our guess is that it simply devalues the need to be able to do math because a successful person who even works in academia brushes it off with ease.
The societal consequences might be even more damaging, though. Many high-paying jobs require the ability to do math, including the use of algebraic reasoning, statistical analysis, and advanced computation. These jobs often also require a degree in a STEM or business-related field, and these degree programs, especially for selective colleges and universities, typically screen applicants based on the level of math education that gets reported on their transcript. This is not abstract–in fact, according to the National Science Board, in 2023, full-time STEM workers had median earnings of $76,000 in comparison to $55,000 for non-STEM workers. In other words, a student who doesn’t progress to pre-calculus, for example, might be denied entrance into a university program to study cybersecurity. We don’t think it’s a stretch to go from hearing an adult devalue math skill acquisition to not electing to take upper-level math courses to being unable to study in a certain major to not having access to higher paying jobs.
We also believe that statements like “I’m not a math person” are more detrimental for already-marginalized students in under-resourced schools and communities. When students already have limited exposure to people with high-paying jobs in math-heavy careers, the only people who might have influence over their perception of the importance of math are the educators in their schools. This means that we not only need to quit saying “I’m not a math person,” and instead begin to emphasize the critical need for math skills to be able to reach postsecondary success after K-12. We say that we want every student to reach for their dreams, but what if you’re unintentionally putting up barriers to them?
Our call-to-action is simple: Please stop saying “I’m not a math person.” Don’t say it, don’t think it, and especially not in front of young people. Instead, try saying: “Math has not always come easily to me, but I know it matters, and I’m still learning.” This small shift in language has major implications; instead of treating math as optional, it demonstrates that we are all life-long learners of it, even when it requires persistence. We know that adults, mentors, teachers, and school leaders have a dramatic influence on students, their mindset about school, and their future achievements. What seems like a harmless and innocent thing to say could be creating significant damage over time. We’re asking that you quit saying it and start challenging others when you hear it. We hope that this is just one step in the right direction for the creation of a world where we’re all “math people.”
- Quit saying “I’m not a math person” - September 16, 2026
- 5 questions to help every district leader make better decisions - September 15, 2026
- Why K-12 cybersecurity education needs practice, not just awareness - September 14, 2026