The change we need to make is to broaden the notion of what basic arithmetic is so that it includes the complexity of real-life arithmetic, so that it promotes the thinking and reasoning that are essential life skills. Memorizing facts and becoming proficient with computation are no longer sufficient and minimal competencies. We need to ask more of ourchildren and provide more rigor in their arithmetic instruction so they will be prepared to face the numerical situations they encounter. More rigor means pushing students to apply the concepts and skills they've learned in new and different ways and challenging them to face more complex problem-solving situations.
Math phobia is a widespread national problem.
The negative attitudes and beliefs that people hold about mathematics have seriously limited them, both in their daily lives and in their long-term options. What was good enough for us in learning mathematics is not good enough for our children. Despite the reality that learning math was a bust for so many of us, schools have pressed on with ineffective teaching approaches that clearly didn't work. If they did, math phobia wouldn't be rampant today. The cry is loud and the call is reasonable.