Book Review: Confronting Fear and Prejudice in Math and Science

Abstract

Introduction:  Is there a way to overcome the fears and prejudices that create obstacles in the minds of children when it comes to studying mathematics and science? The fears are that these disciplines are difficult, boring and useless because they bear no relation to everyday life. The prejudices include the idea that those who are good at such things are peculiar in some way, and the perception that these disciplines are male preserves, that girls will never be any good at them. These texts, aimed at 9 to 13-year-olds and their teachers, address these issues head on and by encouraging children themselves to discuss and confront their fears and prejudices, hope to help overcome them. Although important, this is, of course, not the sole aim of these texts which are more generally concerned to open up mathematics and the sciences to children.