Who's Better At Math?

I just finished reading an article by the science editor of Newsweek magazine. She was responding to a statement she overheard a teacher make at some sort of gathering. It was this teacher’s view that a boy’s brain is ‘hard wired’ to be better at math than a girl’s. The author of the article strenuously disagreed and went on to cite a great deal of research that completely repudiates the view. It’s true that by middle school and later, boys tend to score better on a variety of mathematics achievement tests but the reason why is not because of ‘genetic’ issues.
As a retired teacher, both general classroom and specifically math, I can state without reservation that there is absolutely no physiological/neurological reason why a female should not be every bit as good at math as males. One important reason why they often are not is because of a phenomena called teacher expectation-like the one that science editor overheard! If a teacher expects a student to be unsuccessful, he/she will. If a teacher expects a student to be poorly behaved, he/she will. If a teacher expects that a whole group of students-be they female, black or blonde-are going to be ‘slow’ at something, they will. Teachers with these kinds of predisposed expectations unwittingly engineer the outcome so it fits their already engrained expectations!! It’s the Catch 22 of education. I’ve heard it stated over and over again in faculty rooms and at meetings. Having a daughter who could have been a mathematician had she chosen to was enough to get me fuming-usually resulting in a spirited discussion. That’s why I was so well liked!!! So if you ever hear someone say something that reveals unreasonable expectations or stereotypes, politely point out there is no basis in fact to it. And if they persist, ask to see the research. That usually puts an end to it plus you'll end up being as popular as me!!!