&gt; Boaler said a big problem is that math teachers themselves are math-traumatized. They came through a system very similar to the one in which they work. Elementary school teachers in particular often feel insecure about math.<p>This is incredibly important to understand. I know a number of middle grades teachers (not math or science) who &quot;aren&#x27;t math people&quot;. Their anxieties significantly hamper their ability to help their students when math-related things come up in class (statistics in a social sciences class, for instance). Or if a student wants to go to a trusted teacher for help outside that teacher&#x27;s subject area.<p>Similarly, and this is really bad, they can&#x27;t calculate students&#x27; grades! I&#x27;ve witnessed this one several times with a friend, and wish I could sit with her every time she worked out her grades so it will stop happening:<p>Test is out of 100 points. 10 points of extra credit. Calculate the students percentage as X&#x2F;110. WTF, it&#x27;s no longer extra credit, the top score (110) is still 100% (instead of 110%), and now 90 points (should be 90%, an A-) becomes an 82% (B-)!