Does everybody count?

In this article Nel Nodding raises the problem of the purpose of learning mathematics at school. Her main idea is that school mathematics isn’t such as essential subject as we are told every time. Namely, there are many talks about high correlation between math achievements and further success at work, and therefore these beliefs emphasise a significant role of mathematics in overcoming inequalities in our society. Moreover, our efforts to teach mathematics in school led to enhancement of national economics.    

In her turn Nel doubts in causality between mathematics and further success in life, and argues that school math rather plays a role of artificial barrier to success than accounts for high-paid job.  As soon as math doesn’t play a crucial role in our life, we should stop to oblige everybody to learn mathematics, at least in high school.  According to this paper it is better to allow students to decide for themselves whether they need to study math or not.  In other words we should provide student an opportunity to choose their own way in life (not only in mathematics) and respect their choice.

It is should be noted that the author is not arguing about mathematics itself, but states that students could have different interests and talents in multiple spheres of life. And instead of focusing just on teaching mathematics, it is better for school to support development of everyone's interests.  For this purpose Nel suggests to enrich math curriculum with references music, art, philosophy, theology, etc.

Generally I agree with Nel’s argumentation and I am sure that conscious choice is always better. Moreover, it always better to help students to understand their interests, to work with their anxiety and beliefs regardless of school subject. However, I find the idea of interdisciplinary connections very attractive, I also doubt that such serious changes could happen in the nearest future.

I was also wondering about role of mathematics in our life. In my research I asked several math teachers about it. Surprisingly, most of them define threefold role of school of mathematics:

1.  Mathematics is the main science among others because only mathematics could teach students to think and solve different problems; it improves abstract reasoning
2. Mathematics plays a crucial role in professional and life success since many students are aimed to go to the universities and become economists, IT-specialists or lawyers  in future   
3. Mathematics helps us to solve our everyday problems. Namely, we need know math in order to buy something or to understand what is going on with our credits  

Honestly, I favour the first role of mathematics more than others. But I guess it is hard to define is it true or not, and which part of math curriculum accounts for t, and by what time the formation of reasoning skills is completed.

Have you been forced to study math at school or university? If yes, how could your life have been changed without that forcing?