Feb 3, 2025 2:17:38 PM
I recently read a Facebook post in an educator’s group where a teacher was upset that a student had challenged him on a math problem. The student, confident in their reasoning, took the issue to the principal. The principal, in turn, pulled up ChatGPT, fact-checked the dispute, and ultimately sided with the student. The teacher’s frustration wasn’t just about being corrected—it was about the fact that the principal used AI to do it and did so in front of the student. This incident speaks volumes about the evolving role of teachers in an era where knowledge is more accessible than ever.
It raises a critical question: Are educators truly ready for the reality that students now have instant access to tools that can challenge their authority, validate their understanding, and expose instructional gaps?
This readiness—or lack thereof—extends far beyond individual classroom disputes. It is part of a larger crisis in American math education, as evidenced by the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report, which once again confirms that math scores are dropping nationwide. In both fourth and eighth grades, students continue to struggle, with scores failing to recover to pre-pandemic levels. Despite increased funding, particularly in response to COVID-19, the numbers show a decades-long trend of stagnation and decline.
If students struggle with foundational math skills while simultaneously having unprecedented access to digital tools that can challenge and correct their teachers, what does this mean for the future of math education?
At stake is far more than test scores. America’s ability to produce a workforce prepared for Science, Technology, Engineering, AI, Mathematics, and Quantum Computing (STEAMQ) careers is in jeopardy. The technological revolution will not wait for us to get our act together.
Quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and other frontier technologies demand a mathematically literate population—but our education system fails to provide it.
Making matters worse, political shifts threaten to further destabilize efforts to close learning gaps. With Donald Trump’s second term, his administration has already begun dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies, including education. Resources have been pulled, diversity offices have been shuttered, and critical training programs have been eliminated. While some may argue that DEI efforts distract from core academics, the reality is that educational inequities will not disappear simply because we stop addressing them. Without targeted efforts to support underrepresented students in math and STEAMQ fields, we will continue to exclude large population segments from contributing to and benefiting from technological advancements.
So, we must ask ourselves: When will we take a real stance to solve this crisis?
How much longer can we ignore the reality that America is falling behind in mathematical literacy?
And if we do nothing, who will fill the ranks of the scientists, engineers, and quantum computing pioneers that will define the future? If we are not ready to face the math facts now, what happens when it’s too late?
In partnership with Ed Post , Moore Math Geniuses is dedicated to increasing educational equity. This collaboration aims to ensure that all students, especially those from underserved communities, receive the quality education they deserve. By combining their efforts, Moore Math Geniuses and EdPost are working towards a future where every child has the opportunity to excel in mathematics and beyond. For more information and to register, visit MooreMathGeniuses.com.
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Assata Moore is educator and author who advocates for educating young Black children, using math as the driving force. She believes in the supreme intelligence of Black children because she has seen it time and time again. As a teacher and principal, she traveled the world teaching other teachers how to teach Mathematics, physics, and engineering in a fun and engaging way; effective leadership; and systems and strategies for running a successful school. She has a Mathematics degree from Michigan State University where she also served as the program coordinator. In 2009, she was voted one of the top Mathematics teachers in the state of Illinois and, under the Obama Administration, Assata received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. In 2015, under the direction of Michelle Obama, she revisited the White House for a college conference initiative. Her workshops and speaking engagements are what she calls, “EduAction”. You will be educated and you will put that learning into action.
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