Math Anxiety: Some Suggested Causes and Cures: Part 1

Five years ago the phrases 'math anxiety,' 'mathophobia,' 'math avoidance' were virtually unknown. Today they are commonplaces of the mathematics education scene. Many concerned people-among them some of the brightest and most innovative of our educators-are devoting themselves almost exclusively to attempts to remedy a situation in which so many of our citizens seek to avoid any contact with mathematical activity. There is the Math Anxiety Clinic at Wesleyan University, founded by Sheila Tobias (who, I believe, invented the term 'math anxiety'). Wellesley College has introduced a special course, 'Discovery in Elementary Math and its Applications,' under the direction of Alice Schafer. Deborah Hughes-Hallett has developed a precalculus program at Harvard University. Sheila Tobias, having resigned her position at Wesleyan University, has formed an organization called 'Overcoming Math Anxiety,' with its headquarters in Washington. Stanley Kogelman and Joseph Warren have formed a company called 'Mind over Math,' based in New York, whose purpose is to help adults to overcome math avoidance. The National Institute of Education is devoting a special effort to studying the problem of math anxiety and poor math performance. The Mathematical Association of America has devoted special sessions at its national and regional meetings to panel discussions on the problems of undergraduate students with low mathematical competence and dislike of the subject. Stanford University has introduced a special program for such students.