More math, less "math war". (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38513019/)

These scientists wanted to find out if there was a better way to teach math in schools. They noticed that some people argued that schools should focus on making sure everyone is treated fairly, while others thought schools should only focus on teaching really hard math to the smartest students. To figure out the best approach, the scientists did a study where they looked at how different math lessons affected students.

They split the students into two groups. One group learned math in a way that focused on everyone being treated fairly, while the other group learned math that was really challenging. After a few months, they tested the students to see how well they had learned math.

The scientists found that both groups of students did well in math, but the students who learned in a way that focused on fairness also felt more confident and enjoyed math more. This study showed that it's important to teach math in a way that is fair to everyone, while still challenging students to do their best.

Schoenfeld A., Daro P. More math, less "math war". Science. 2024 Mar 22;383(6689):1297-1299. doi: 10.1126/science.adk6419. Epub 2024 Mar 21.