A Math Lover's Lament

I was tutoring a student in Algebra at the library the other day (BAD IDEA, just for the record.  If you are going to tutor at a library, make sure you check it out ahead of time so that you know whether or not there are quiet areas in which to work) and there was a woman working with a much younger child at a table nearby.  While my tutee was working quietly on a problem I had given her, I couldn't help but overhear the conversation going on at the next table.  Apparently, the young boy was really enjoying working on math and didn't want to move on to reading.  Now, I completely understand that the tutor had a duty to make sure they accomplished some reading during their time together, but I do NOT agree with the method she used to transition.  She told the young boy, "We have to do some reading now so we don't get a headache from doing all this math."

EXCUSE ME???  What kind of message is that sending to that young and very impressionable boy?  Answer:  Math gives you a headache, math is bad, etc.  Poor math, it's no wonder it gets such a bad rep.  From a very young age, students' minds are filled with false impressions of the subject that I think is so wonderful.  Yes, the tutor needed to transition to reading, but she could have done so in a way that encouraged the child's interest in math.  How about, "I'm so glad that you are enjoying math so much, but reading is fun and important too.  So, why don't we spend some time reading, and then if we have time we can work on some more math at the end?"  Or, "Well, we could spend the rest of our time doing math today as long as we spend our next meeting together reading.  Or we could share our time both days reading and doing math.  What would you like to do?"  Then write a little contract and have the student sign it so that he is held accountable for the choice he has made.  There are so many other options besides, "Math will give you a headache."

Imagine what a difference it would make if everyone, no matter their personal feelings toward math, spoke positively of the subject until students could develop their own opinion about the subject.  Imagine how many more students would end up pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).  We need more Americans going into these fields, and first impressions are lasting impressions.  Lets make sure that children's first impressions are positive.