Learning to become comfortable with being uncomfortable

There is a good evolutionary reason why being put on the spot like this is uncomfortable – but we don’t talk about this (unavoidable) discomfort enough in relation to maths here in the UK. Instead, far, far too often, particularly as adults, we default to the easiest response: to shrug and say ‘I can't do maths’.

And often, this ‘I can’t do maths’ belief is the strongest single memory of school mathematics for many – irrespective of whether they ‘passed’ or not.

School maths is still far too often characterised by a starkly binary approach with all the focus on the answer rather than the process. It is inevitable that there will always be others who get to the answer before you. For you, the problem is still impossible but for them it is easy – although it may have been impossible for them to 10 seconds before!

This country's long-established (but hopefully waning, given the advent of ‘Mastery’) enthusiasm for putting children into ability groups creates an unhelpful divide between those who are fast at maths – which in itself is not a great indicator of future potential – and those who aren't. Research suggests that 85% of children who are put in a bottom set for maths stay there throughout their school career. This is hardly a recipe for social mobility. Often the children who are put in these lower sets are those who have had less parental input and fewer encouraging pre-school experiences. In other words, factors that are not related in any way to ability.

The maths gene myth

The fundamental problem with maths here and in the US is our enthusiasm for categorising lower attainment as some kind of quasi-genetic low ability or lack of ‘maths gene’. This simply does not happen in higher performing countries.

As an example, an OECD survey asked 15-year-olds: what do you need to succeed in maths? In the US, 40% of them said that maths is just down to talent. In Japan, 80% said maths is all about effort – you just need to work hard.

So how does this relate to later life? And does being able to calculate 17 x 24 in your head matter? Not really. But – and it's a big but – if your overwhelming emotion is ‘I can’t do maths!’ then you’re not going to be able to engage with numbers and data in later life, which is the area that we at National Numeracy are most interested in as a charity.

So what kind of things are we talking about? Mundane things like choosing a phone contract or planning a journey. Socially important things like planning a meal for a new girlfriend or boyfriend. Or boring, but vital, things like checking a pay slip or planning your future finances. I'm also thinking about interpreting numbers as an engaged citizen in a democracy. (And, yes, I am thinking about £350m on the side of a Brexit bus.)

You might think that most people have their GCSE pass and that sets them up just fine. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Remarkably, less than a quarter who passed GCSE in the past eight years come out at the same level when their practical maths skills are tested. Government data suggests that only 22% of adults are at the level that we expect of 16-year-olds and 24% are at Entry 2 level or below (the level expected of a nine-year-old or younger).

The situation’s been getting worse for numeracy while it's been improving for literacy.

And it really does matter. Both for UK plc and for individuals.

A conservative estimate tells that low numeracy is costing the economy £20.2 billion a year. For individuals, the data suggests that good numeracy is the best protection against unemployment, low wages and poor health. That’s more significant than literacy and any of the other variables measured.

The good news is that there’s a way forward and it's not about teaching more complex maths in schools.

There are three things that we can do to get rid of ‘I can’t do maths’ and to enable everyone to be confident to use numbers and data to make good decisions in daily life.

• The first is value. We need to recognise the value of maths – not the complex, theoretical type, but simple maths for the situations that you're going to encounter in real life.
• The second element is mindset. We need to believe that there is no specific ‘maths gene’ or, put another way, that we all have the genetic make-up to become numerate.
• And the final element is allowing ourselves to feel uncomfortable – but then fight in response rather than run to the hills! We have to be prepared to struggle and get things wrong in order to succeed – and that applies to anything but it is particularly stark in maths.

It is about moving from ‘I can't do maths’ to ‘I can't do maths... yet’ – and then engaging actively to do something about it. And why? Because according to Andreas Schleicher from the OECD, ‘good numeracy is the best protection against unemployment, low wages and poor health’.

Watch the full video of Mike's TED talk here

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