--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What the hell did magic wands have to do…" description: "\"“What the hell did magic wands have to do with helping girls learn math and science? He'd been good at both. He could have helped them with math and sc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/susan-elizabeth-phillips-815_magic-wand_what-the-hell-did-magic-wands-have-to-do_269210.jpg" --- # What the hell did magic wands have to do with helping… ![“What the hell did magic wands have to do with helping girls learn math and science? He'd been good at both. He could have helped them with math and science. Weren't these girls supposed to be building skills? Screw magic wands. He'd have handed out some fucking calculators.” quote by Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/susan-elizabeth-phillips-815_magic-wand_what-the-hell-did-magic-wands-have-to-do_269210.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/susan-elizabeth-phillips-815_magic-wand_what-the-hell-did-magic-wands-have-to-do_269210.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/susan-elizabeth-phillips-815_magic-wand_what-the-hell-did-magic-wands-have-to-do_269210.jpg) > ““What the hell did magic wands have to do with helping girls learn math and science? He'd been good at both. He could have helped them with math and science. Weren't these girls supposed to be building skills? Screw magic wands. He'd have handed out some fucking calculators.”” [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker criticizes reliance on magical solutions, emphasizing the need for practical tools and genuine skill development in education, especially for girls in STEM. **In simple terms:** Don't replace real learning with fantasy tools. Key Takeaway Prioritize real resources over fanciful ones. Themes education gender equity STEM pragmatism Mood concerned hopeful Type educational advocacy When to use this quote - classroom teaching - after‑school programs - mentorship - policy advocacy Key Concepts skill development empowerment resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - How can we provide effective tools without hype? - What resources truly empower girls in STEM? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on gimmicks can undermine confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Did Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-magic-1397316/) [Magic wand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic-wand/) [Magic wands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic-wands/) [Math and science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math-and-science/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Wands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wands/) [Wands Handed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wands-handed-2636206/) [Wands Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wands-helping-2636205/) ## Related quotes > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. There you are, keeping the beat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/imagine-if-you-were-a-drummer-and-you-accidentally-picked-up-two/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Appellate review is not a magic wand and we undermine public confidence in the judicial process when we make it look like it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kozinski/appellate-review-is-not-a-magic-wand-and-we-undermine-public/) [Alex Kozinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kozinski/) > [I think there is an element of magic in photography - light, chemistry, precious metals - a certain alchemy. You can wield a camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-carter/i-think-there-is-an-element-of-magic-in-photography-light-chemistry/) [Keith Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-carter/) > [The government does not have some magic wand that can 'bring down the cost of health care.' It can buy a smaller quantity or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-government-does-not-have-some-magic-wand-that-can-bring-down-the/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [If you have never tried a plant-based diet, start. If you've never juiced vegetables, start. If you've never taken vitamin C to saturation, start.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-saul/if-you-have-never-tried-a-plant-based-diet-start-if-you-ve-never/) [Andrew Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-saul/) > [I beg you I no magician. I can't just wave a magic wand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/i-beg-you-i-no-magician-i-can-t-just-wave-a-magic-wand/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [When we read about Creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/when-we-read-about-creation-in-genesis-we-run-the-risk-of-imagining/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [We can't wave a magic wand and get rid of any of these people's problems, but what they want is they want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-foxx/we-can-t-wave-a-magic-wand-and-get-rid-of-any-of-these-people-s/) [Jamie Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-foxx/) > [Touch is the magic wand of intimacy. Love is keeping in touch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/touch-is-the-magic-wand-of-intimacy-love-is-keeping-in-touch/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [You can't help some increase from this point. I don't want any viewer to go away think a magic wand exists in Congress. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/you-can-t-help-some-increase-from-this-point-i-don-t-want-any-viewer/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Returning to power in northern India is very important for the Congress party. No magic wand will work. We have to make our efforts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-gandhi/returning-to-power-in-northern-india-is-very-important-for-the/) [Sonia Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-gandhi/) > [“In this world in which we live simplicity and kindness are the only magic wands that work wonders”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/in-this-world-in-which-we-live-simplicity-and-kindness-are-the-only/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [No mighty king, no ambitious emperor, no pope, or prophet ever dreamt of such an awesome pulpit, so potent a magic wand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-w-friendly/no-mighty-king-no-ambitious-emperor-no-pope-or-prophet-ever-dreamt-of/) [Fred W. Friendly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-w-friendly/) > [Music is the elixir of life. It can mimic the heartbeats of our bodies and heal like a magic wand... The resonance it creates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mikac/music-is-the-elixir-of-life-it-can-mimic-the-heartbeats-of-our-bodies/) [Walter Mikac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mikac/) > [And what did the banks do to earn this perpetually flowing river of wealth? Did they lend out their own capital obtained through investment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-edward-griffin/and-what-did-the-banks-do-to-earn-this-perpetually-flowing-river-of/) [G. Edward Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-edward-griffin/) ## More by Susan Elizabeth Phillips > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [...I have to tell you that I'm not all that comfortable with the idea of spending the rest of my life sleeping next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/i-have-to-tell-you-that-i-m-not-all-that-comfortable-with-the-idea-of/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [Life sure is easier when you're rich." "And a natural born charmer. Don't forget that part." "How could I?" she retorted. "It's the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/life-sure-is-easier-when-you-re-rich-and-a-natural-born-charmer-don-t/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [For a moment he could have sworn he smelled violets, which was very peculiar, since he had no idea what violets smelled like, except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/for-a-moment-he-could-have-sworn-he-smelled-violets-which-was-very/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“You're not my matchmaker any longer. But we're still friends, and in the interest of our friendship we need to discuss page thirteen." "Page…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/you-re-not-my-matchmaker-any-longer-but-we-re-still-friends-and-in/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [The final cover for 'Heroes Are My Weakness' feels exactly right. It reflects the cold, wintry setting of an isolated island off the coast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/the-final-cover-for-heroes-are-my-weakness-feels-exactly-right-it/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“People will always try to steal your power. When you do well, they’ll say it’s only because you’re rich and your parents are big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/people-will-always-try-to-steal-your-power-when-you-do-well-they-ll/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [You remind me of someone with a bad toothache who's hitting herself in the head with a hammer to distract herself from the pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/you-remind-me-of-someone-with-a-bad-toothache-who-s-hitting-herself/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“And Eth couldn't help looking. It's been years since he's seen a beautiful naked woman in the flesh. I'd be worried about him if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/and-eth-couldn-t-help-looking-it-s-been-years-since-he-s-seen-a/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“As she gazed into those cool blue eyes, something strange happened in the vicinity of her middle. She suddenly felt like a hungry woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/as-she-gazed-into-those-cool-blue-eyes-something-strange-happened-in/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [Something brushed his leg, and he gazed down into the face of Pippi Tucker. The theme from Jaws raced through his head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/something-brushed-his-leg-and-he-gazed-down-into-the-face-of-pippi/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“Did you eat my Twinkies?" She gulped. Keeping her eyes glued to the whip, she said, "Exactly what Twinkies are we talking about?" "The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/did-you-eat-my-twinkies-she-gulped-keeping-her-eyes-glued-to-the-whip/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“Chip, I know you don't understand this, but I'd take it as a personal favor if you'd stop trying to marry your mother off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/chip-i-know-you-don-t-understand-this-but-i-d-take-it-as-a-personal/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [Everybody won’t like everything you write. Some people won’t like anything you write. Get over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/everybody-won-t-like-everything-you-write-some-people-won-t-like/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“If I were going to put a price tag on my lady parts, I’d find a more appetizing buyer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/if-i-were-going-to-put-a-price-tag-on-my-lady-parts-i-d-find-a-more/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) [Explore all 337 Susan Elizabeth Phillips quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) ## More Magic wand quotes > [If I could wave a magic wand, I'd break up the banking system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-c-griffin/if-i-could-wave-a-magic-wand-i-d-break-up-the-banking-system/) [Kenneth C. Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-c-griffin/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. There you are, keeping the beat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/imagine-if-you-were-a-drummer-and-you-accidentally-picked-up-two/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I intend to do the Penn & Teller show until they pry my cheesy magic wand from my cold dead fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-intend-to-do-the-penn-teller-show-until-they-pry-my-cheesy-magic/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [“That’s my cousin, dickwad,” Agent Jaxon Tremain said from Hector’s left. Had Whacky Jacky been next to Dallas, he would have drilled his knuckles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/that-s-my-cousin-dickwad-agent-jaxon-tremain-said-from-hector-s-left/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [There is no magic wand that can resolve our problems. The solution rests with our work and discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-eduardo-dos-santos/there-is-no-magic-wand-that-can-resolve-our-problems-the-solution/) [Jose Eduardo Dos Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-eduardo-dos-santos/) > [“Creativity is a magic wand that works two ways. When you set it in action and seek to create something, it does not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jyoti-arora/creativity-is-a-magic-wand-that-works-two-ways-when-you-set-it-in/) [Jyoti Arora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jyoti-arora/) > [“He picks up one of the tests and pretends like he's Harry Potter, aiming the test at random objects around the small bathroom yelling,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-sivec/he-picks-up-one-of-the-tests-and-pretends-like-he-s-harry-potter/) [Tara Sivec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-sivec/) > [Music is the elixir of life. It can mimic the heartbeats of our bodies and heal like a magic wand... The resonance it creates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mikac/music-is-the-elixir-of-life-it-can-mimic-the-heartbeats-of-our-bodies/) [Walter Mikac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mikac/) > [I'm too much of a coward for plastic surgery, but if I could wave a magic wand and change something, it would be my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/i-m-too-much-of-a-coward-for-plastic-surgery-but-if-i-could-wave-a/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [No mighty king, no ambitious emperor, no pope, or prophet ever dreamt of such an awesome pulpit, so potent a magic wand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-w-friendly/no-mighty-king-no-ambitious-emperor-no-pope-or-prophet-ever-dreamt-of/) [Fred W. Friendly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-w-friendly/) > [People are always coming up to me, thinking I've got some magic wand that can make them a star and I want to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/people-are-always-coming-up-to-me-thinking-i-ve-got-some-magic-wand/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [“...but there were no faerie godmothers. There were only mothers and grandmothers, and there was no magic wand to wave over a person's heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/but-there-were-no-faerie-godmothers-there-were-only-mothers-and/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“In the art of magic, keeping a secret is the greatest sleight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/in-the-art-of-magic-keeping-a-secret-is-the-greatest-sleight/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“I can do this, Logan," she said confidently. "Kala trained me for this." "What if something goes wrong? I can't exactly wave a magic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyxandra-harvey/i-can-do-this-logan-she-said-confidently-kala-trained-me-for-this/) [Alyxandra Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyxandra-harvey/) > [“God could wave a magic wand and change the whole world into a perfect utopia, sure. Who does that help, though? He wants us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-rae-jordan/god-could-wave-a-magic-wand-and-change-the-whole-world-into-a-perfect/) [Kimberly Rae Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-rae-jordan/) [Browse all 148 Magic wand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic-wand/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What the hell did magic wands have to do with helping girls learn math and science? He'd been good at both. He could have helped them with math and science. Weren't these girls supposed to be building skills? Screw magic wands. He'd have handed out some fucking calculators.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Susan Elizabeth Phillips" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/what-the-hell-did-magic-wands-have-to-do-with-helping-girls-learn/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Magic wand" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/what-the-hell-did-magic-wands-have-to-do-with-helping-girls-learn/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/susan-elizabeth-phillips-815_magic-wand_what-the-hell-did-magic-wands-have-to-do_269210.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/susan-elizabeth-phillips-815_magic-wand_what-the-hell-did-magic-wands-have-to-do_269210.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/susan-elizabeth-phillips-815_magic-wand_what-the-hell-did-magic-wands-have-to-do_269210.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What the hell did magic wands have to do with helping girls learn math and science? He'd been good at both…” — Susan Elizabeth Phillips", "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": "Susan Elizabeth Phillips", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“What the hell did magic wands...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/what-the-hell-did-magic-wands-have-to-do-with-helping-girls-learn/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/what-the-hell-did-magic-wands-have-to-do-with-helping-girls-learn/#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 } } ] } ```