#1 We focus on teaching procedures rather than understanding. Most people therefore view math as a list of memorized fixed procedures, and that's intrinsically very hard to remember and become good at.
#2 Math is simple in a way our brains are not wired to be good at, yet we have a mistaken belief that simple is easy. It is not. Adding 1000 numbers by hand and getting the right answer is very simple, but hard. Recognizing my voice is very complex, but easy. Be aware that your brain is working in a way it is not designed to work and have patience with it. Otherwise you'll get frustrated, and mistake "It took me this long to understand something THIS simple?" for, "I'm stupid!"
The result is that most people understand math in a way that is hard, and their experience of math is an experience of repeatedly confirming the message that they are stupid. Is there any wonder that they take that frustration out on the entire subject of mathematics?
#1 We focus on teaching procedures rather than understanding. Most people therefore view math as a list of memorized fixed procedures, and that's intrinsically very hard to remember and become good at.
#2 Math is simple in a way our brains are not wired to be good at, yet we have a mistaken belief that simple is easy. It is not. Adding 1000 numbers by hand and getting the right answer is very simple, but hard. Recognizing my voice is very complex, but easy. Be aware that your brain is working in a way it is not designed to work and have patience with it. Otherwise you'll get frustrated, and mistake "It took me this long to understand something THIS simple?" for, "I'm stupid!"
The result is that most people understand math in a way that is hard, and their experience of math is an experience of repeatedly confirming the message that they are stupid. Is there any wonder that they take that frustration out on the entire subject of mathematics?