As a college chemistry instructor I find myself spending at least 10 minutes each lecture teaching students basic algebra needed for Intro Chemistry. Math deficiency is probably the number one reason students drop my course.
First off, I loved physics as a high school senior, and at the time had no idea that physics, was math. Math was my worst subject, so college was interesting until I figured out I better be looking at subjects with basic math, not algebra or above.
I’m beginning to think that math deficiency is the fault of the K-12 education and not anything else. If we truly had rigor (a common core value) we would NOT have math deficiency at the college level or the need for remedial math courses.
With the use of calculators, students today think they have no need to learn basic math.
While teaching physical science to ninth graders about 15 years ago, I was astounded to learn that they were totally incapable of performing short division without the calculator. When I demonstrated long division on the chalk board, many of them acted as if I has started speaking in a foreign language. They truly had never even heard of the concept.
And I hasten to add that I let the classes know that I was sympathetic to their fear of math. I told them that I am a math moron — which is true — and I was extremely patient with them. But their lack of basic math knowledge shocked even me.