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To: Amy J who wrote (176676)	1/27/2004 6:18:21 AM
From: Joe NYC	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 186894

Amy J, In universities, 43% (or 46%) of the math students are women. That's not what my experience was. We usually had 1 or 2 girls in advanced (elective) math classes, if that. Sometimes it was 100% guys. Girls actually do better up thru 3rd or 4th grade. After that, I believe they fall off, and I think it's culture that takes over, classroom culture, etc. Could it be that at that point, abstract thinking starts to take over from mechanics? I hope not, because I have 2 daughters, and I am certainly hope they will excel in math. I am trying to "teach" them math from very different angles than what her regular school curriculum offers, and find my 5 year old to be very perceptive, but I notice that she likes to resort to mechanical "tricks" instead of thinking. Joe

To: Amy J who wrote (176676)	1/27/2004 1:36:00 PM
From: Saturn V	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 186894

Ref What are her stated reasons for not entering it? My daughter is very good at Math and Computer software. But she was intimidated by Physics, and wants to avoid Engineering. She is also very good at Chemistry and Biology and would like to take up Medicine. Her back up plan is to do Law if she cant make it into Med School. Regarding the "school culture", the math phobia was unique to girls in her class. My son attended the same school, and there was no problem on this issue. That is the reason I believe that there is a female math phobia, based upon historical and cultural reasons. You are right that the dumbed down media culture is responsible for some of the attitudes. This media culture does not value academic excellence like the Confucian philosophy does. However I am confident that the American system will respond to the challenges posed by the Global Economy. This country has the resilience, and can change rapidly. I find it much more responsive than Europe or Japan. There are burdened by History, and stay in the denial mode too long, while the US is quick to embrace the Brave New World. There is a Global Tectonic Change due to the dramatic increase in literacy and education levels in the major population centers of China and India. This will put pressure on wages and skills needed. However as long as the individual is willing to adapt and learn new skills, we will prosper. Unfortunately no one can predict what the new skills will be. America will continue to be the fountion of innovation, and will lead the way to the future, whatever it may be.