As a math teacher, his branding/personal presentation makes me bristle.
One of the hardest things to do is to convince a struggling student that "only nerds can do math" is not a truism. By presenting himself as a stereotypical nerd (i.e., taped glasses, etc.) I feel like Patrick only helps to reinforce that stereotype.
For many students, my concerns are overblown. For some, though, they are very real; students do psyche themselves out of being able to solve a problem and shut down.
The world needs more math experts who break stereotypes, not reinforce them.
The world needs more math experts who break stereotypes, not reinforce them.
If public schools create such a stigma against nerds (driven by the violence against them?), perhaps it is the environment that needs reform. It shouldn't be up to naturally nerdy people to deny their nature (in order to survive), but for the system at least not to stifle them.
I'd say the world needs more math-knowledgeable people period, be they experts or amateurs, nerdy or not.
One of the hardest things to do is to convince a struggling student that "only nerds can do math" is not a truism. By presenting himself as a stereotypical nerd (i.e., taped glasses, etc.) I feel like Patrick only helps to reinforce that stereotype.
For many students, my concerns are overblown. For some, though, they are very real; students do psyche themselves out of being able to solve a problem and shut down.
The world needs more math experts who break stereotypes, not reinforce them.