--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why don't we want our children to learn…" description: "\"Why don't we want our children to learn to do mathematics? Is it that we don't trust them, that we think it's too hard? We seem to feel that they are c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/paul-lockhart-18353_argument_why-don-t-we-want-our-children-to-learn_484868.png" --- # Why don't we want our children to learn to do mathematics?… ![“Why don't we want our children to learn to do mathematics? Is it that we don't trust them, that we think it's too hard? We seem to feel that they are capable of making arguments and coming to their own conclusions about Napoleon. Why not about triangles?” quote by Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/paul-lockhart-18353_argument_why-don-t-we-want-our-children-to-learn_484868.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/paul-lockhart-18353_argument_why-don-t-we-want-our-children-to-learn_484868.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/paul-lockhart-18353_argument_why-don-t-we-want-our-children-to-learn_484868.png) > “Why don't we want our children to learn to do mathematics? Is it that we don't trust them, that we think it's too hard? We seem to feel that they are capable of making arguments and coming to their own conclusions about Napoleon. Why not about triangles?” [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often doubt children's ability to grasp abstract concepts, preferring familiar historical narratives over logical reasoning. **In simple terms:** Adults underestimate kids' math skills. Key Takeaway Encourage early math exploration. Themes education confidence logic Mood reflective concerned Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - classroom teaching - parental guidance - curriculum design Key Concepts constructivism mathematical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can we make abstract math relatable? - What narratives help children see value in math? A Different Perspective Children may lack concrete experiences to relate abstract ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Triangles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triangles/) [Why not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why-not/) ## Related quotes > [When you have a white male making the arguments, they carry more weight... Should they carry more weight? Absolutely not. But do they? Yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-avenatti/when-you-have-a-white-male-making-the-arguments-they-carry-more/) [Michael Avenatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-avenatti/) > [ People do not like being lied to, and they do not like having their rights violated. So as soon as \[officials\] stop making arguments,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/people-do-not-like-being-lied-to-and-they-do-not-like-having-their/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [University presidents should be loud and forceful in defending the university as a social good, essential to the democratic culture and economy of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/university-presidents-should-be-loud-and-forceful-in-defending-the/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [“It's much easier, after all, to learn mathematics from someone who's made a few mistakes. It's impossible to learn it from someone who always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennox/it-s-much-easier-after-all-to-learn-mathematics-from-someone-who-s/) [John Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennox/) > [The only way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-halmos/the-only-way-to-learn-mathematics-is-to-do-mathematics/) [Paul Halmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-halmos/) > [You only learn when you give your whole being to something. When you give your whole being to mathematics,you learn; but when you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/you-only-learn-when-you-give-your-whole-being-to-something-when-you/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I think the biggest misconception is that everybody has to learn mathematics. That seems to be a complete mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/i-think-the-biggest-misconception-is-that-everybody-has-to-learn/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [The only way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics. That tenet is the foundation of the do-it-yourself, Socratic, or Texas method, ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-halmos/the-only-way-to-learn-mathematics-is-to-do-mathematics-that-tenet-is/) [Paul Halmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-halmos/) > [If you are going to learn mathematics, you have to learn it not simply as an abstraction but as it is applied. I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/if-you-are-going-to-learn-mathematics-you-have-to-learn-it-not-simply/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [I've been in a few love triangles. I've been in a love quadrilateral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-mirchoff/i-ve-been-in-a-few-love-triangles-i-ve-been-in-a-love-quadrilateral/) [Beau Mirchoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-mirchoff/) > [I've never been in a love triangle. I would not want to be in that situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-lautner/i-ve-never-been-in-a-love-triangle-i-would-not-want-to-be-in-that/) [Taylor Lautner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-lautner/) > [I peeled the skin off a grape in slippery little triangles, and I understood then that I would be undressing every item of food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/i-peeled-the-skin-off-a-grape-in-slippery-little-triangles-and-i/) [Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/) > [There's a pizza place near where I live that sells only slices. In the back, you can see a guy tossing a triangle in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/there-s-a-pizza-place-near-where-i-live-that-sells-only-slices-in-the/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Way out in the country tonight he could smell the pumpkins ripening toward the knife and the triangle eye and the singeing candle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/way-out-in-the-country-tonight-he-could-smell-the-pumpkins-ripening/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [The triangle of truisms, of father, mother and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-triangle-of-truisms-of-father-mother-and-child-cannot-be/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) ## More by Paul Lockhart > [So how does one go about proving something like this? It's not like being a lawyer, where the goal is to persuade other people;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/so-how-does-one-go-about-proving-something-like-this-it-s-not-like/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [ \[Math is\] not at all like science. There's no experiment I can do with test tubes and equipment and whatnot that will tell me… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/math-is-not-at-all-like-science-there-s-no-experiment-i-can-do-with/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [“Mathematics is the music of reason . To do mathematics is to engage in an act of discovery and conjecture, intuition and inspiration; to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/mathematics-is-the-music-of-reason-to-do-mathematics-is-to-engage-in/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [I don't see how it's doing society any good to have so many members walking around with vague memories of algebraic formulas and geometric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/i-don-t-see-how-it-s-doing-society-any-good-to-have-so-many-members/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [The thing I want you especially to understand is this feeling of divine revelation. I feel that this structure was "out there" all along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/the-thing-i-want-you-especially-to-understand-is-this-feeling-of/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [There is nothing as dreamy and poetic, nothing as radical, subversive, and psychedelic, as mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/there-is-nothing-as-dreamy-and-poetic-nothing-as-radical-subversive/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [To do mathematics is to engage in an act of discovery and conjecture, intuition and inspiration; to be in a state of confusion −…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/to-do-mathematics-is-to-engage-in-an-act-of-discovery-and-conjecture/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [“And I'll go even further and say that mathematics, this art of abstract pattern-making — even more than storytelling, painting, or music - is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/and-i-ll-go-even-further-and-say-that-mathematics-this-art-of/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [A good problem is something you don't know how to solve. That's what makes it a good puzzle and a good opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/a-good-problem-is-something-you-don-t-know-how-to-solve-that-s-what/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [ “\[Students\] are being trained to ape arguments, not to intend them.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/students-are-being-trained-to-ape-arguments-not-to-intend-them/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [ “Be honest: did you actually read \[the above geometric proof\]? Of course not. Who would want to? The effect of such a production being… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/be-honest-did-you-actually-read-the-above-geometric-proof-of-course/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [There is nothing as dreamy and poetic, nothing as radical, subversive, and psychedelic, as mathematics. It is every bit as mind blowing as cosmology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/there-is-nothing-as-dreamy-and-poetic-nothing-as-radical-subversive-2/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [The only thing I am interested in using mathematics for is to have a good time and to help others do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/the-only-thing-i-am-interested-in-using-mathematics-for-is-to-have-a/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [“This is what it means to do mathematics. To make a discovery (by whatever means, including playing around with physical models like paper, string,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/this-is-what-it-means-to-do-mathematics-to-make-a-discovery-by/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [“Efficiency and economy simply do not make good pedagogy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/efficiency-and-economy-simply-do-not-make-good-pedagogy/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) [Explore all 33 Paul Lockhart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) ## More Argument quotes > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. So the arguments of the characters and the tension between characters -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/on-the-stage-the-characters-express-themselves-more-through-words/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [One argument goes that recessions are good for female artists because when money flies out the window, women are allowed in the house. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/one-argument-goes-that-recessions-are-good-for-female-artists-because/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [“Arguments led by subjectivity are a waste of time. And, if they take place online, add to that, a waste of one’s keyboard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/arguments-led-by-subjectivity-are-a-waste-of-time-and-if-they-take/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [If in the middle of an argument I suddenly fall silent it does not mean you have won... No it means you should probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/if-in-the-middle-of-an-argument-i-suddenly-fall-silent-it-does-not/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [“The motive behind my arguments have always been to come at truth. I am not interested in conquering anyone with my ideologies or seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-evans/the-motive-behind-my-arguments-have-always-been-to-come-at-truth-i-am/) [Crystal Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-evans/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) [Browse all 3,479 Argument quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why don't we want our children to learn to do mathematics? Is it that we don't trust them, that we think it's too hard? We seem to feel that they are capable of making arguments and coming to their own conclusions about Napoleon. Why not about triangles?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Lockhart" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/why-don-t-we-want-our-children-to-learn-to-do-mathematics-is-it-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Argument" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/why-don-t-we-want-our-children-to-learn-to-do-mathematics-is-it-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/paul-lockhart-18353_argument_why-don-t-we-want-our-children-to-learn_484868.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/paul-lockhart-18353_argument_why-don-t-we-want-our-children-to-learn_484868.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/paul-lockhart-18353_argument_why-don-t-we-want-our-children-to-learn_484868.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Why don't we want our children to learn to do mathematics? Is it that we don't trust them, that we think…” — Paul Lockhart", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paul Lockhart", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Why don't we want our children...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/why-don-t-we-want-our-children-to-learn-to-do-mathematics-is-it-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/why-don-t-we-want-our-children-to-learn-to-do-mathematics-is-it-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```