Girls don't do math so as to not look nerdy

William Atkins
Sunday, 09 November 2008 20:17

Science - Biology

“4. There need to exist many more schools such as the Thomas Jefferson High School for
Science and Technology, Stuyvesant High School, Illinois Math and Science Academy, and Davidson Academy of Nevada to provide a socially and academically supportive environment in which mathematically gifted children can pursue their interests with like-minded peers under the mentorship of highly qualified teachers.

Essentially all USA-born students identified by the very high-level mathematics examinations discussed here attended a special public or elite private high school, had access to college mathematics courses, self studied mathematics with help from a parent highly knowledgeable in the field, or were home-schooled …. Unfortunately, only a tiny percentage of pre-college students in the USA currently have access to any of these educational opportunities.

Without them, the USA is squandering a valuable resource.”

“5. We should facilitate the ease with which mathematically precocious pre-college students who lack access to programs for gifted children within their own schools can study mathematics above their grade level at local colleges and via correspondence and online programs such as Stanford University’s Education Program for Gifted Youth, Northwestern University’s Center for Talent.”

Statistically, the Mertz report states that, in 2000, women received 48% of the bachelor degrees in mathematics within the United States.

Eight percent of these women were of Asian descent and 3% were non-resident aliens.

In 2007, U.S. women received 29% of the Ph.D.’s in mathematics. Asians received 6% of them and 5% were received by men.

These statistics show that all girls, not just those of Asian background, have the ability to attain bachelor’s degrees in mathematics.

The Mertz team concludes that many girls and women in the United States have both the “interest and ability to master college- and graduate-level mathematics….”

Additional information on mathematics education is available at:

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM): http://www.nctm.org/

Education World: Math Center:  http://www.education-world.com/math/

Many other sources are available by doing a Web search of "Math Education" or other similarly worded search.