Description:

U.S. educational (K-12) authorities should systematize Noam Chomsky's Universal Grammar theory and Keith Devlin's "The Math Instinct" theory as well as the preschool Algebra recommendation by National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Universal Grammar postulates that all humans are born with an innate ability to acquire language. The Math Instinct asserts that all humans have the same neurobiological mechanisms that predispose them to understand abstract, mathematical concepts. A 1997 study found most Americans believe a child's racial heritage determines his/her potential math achievement levels. East Asians strongly believe that a child's work ethic determines academic achievement levels. By systematizing Universal Grammar and The Math Instinct in public schools, the government can give credence to scientific research that maintains that all humans have equal, innate language and math acquisition capacities. The widespread belief in racial stereotypes has led to the extremely wide black-white math achievement gap. However, math proficiency levels are dismally low among all U.S. racial groups. In fact, almost 70% of white students lack math proficiency skills by the 12th grade. Insufficient math skills among Americans has led to a situation where immigrants increasingly are disproportionately more educated with higher incomes than U.S. citizens.