Movie Night with Math: "Counted Out: Math is Power"

Believe it or not, math is all around us. It is a language for proving things, the subject matter that is designed to sort. It makes the invisible, visible. Math is power. These are the ideas explored in a movie called “Counted Out”. Screened by the Department of Mathematics in collaboration with the Center of Recruitment and Retention of Math Teachers (CRR), the goal of the film is to investigate the role math plays in the biggest crises of our time. 

More than 100 attendees gathered in ENR2 to watch the film, participate in a panel discussion, enter a fun raffle, and learn about the omnipresence of math. Filmmaker Vicki Abeles notes on the film’s website that “in making ‘Counted Out’, I learned that we have a math crisis in America, but that it’s a crisis whose solution is at our fingertips. As we capture the knowledge, organizing, and wherewithal of those who are advocating for widespread math literacy, we can unleash something else: the power of all of us to shape the world we’re living in.” (countedoutfilm.com/)

The film began by acknowledging how math is not a separate form of cognition, stating that we think in math all the time. “It [math] is like an inheritance you get just for being human,” stated one of the film’s interviewees. Stereotypically, math is viewed as its own entity that only some are able to get a grasp on. Furthermore, the film discusses the cycle of poverty that is perpetuated by the idea that if you’re bad at math, higher paying career paths aren’t an option. Over the course of 90 minutes, audience members were given a glimpse into the lives of those who advocate for a more sustainable and empowering system of math education.

Bob Moses, one of the film’s interviewees, shined a light on the Algebra Project. The project believes that “every child has a civil right to secure math literacy - the ability to read, write and reason with the symbol systems of mathematics”. (algebra.org) Students featured in the film shared how empowering it is that they are given tools that they themselves understand, working on projects that have a personal importance to them. At the end of the day, the student is the problem solver.

“The most important message I got from the film is how much mathematics affects access to careers,” said discussion panelist and professor of Mathematics Deb Hughes Hallett, “Bob Moses’ statement that ‘math is a civil right’ says it all. Especially given who is speaking.”

The importance of a mathematically literate society, starting at the earliest stages of learning, is necessary for the sake of not assuming something is accurate simply because math is involved. Associate professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd University Talithia Williams shared a personal anecdote, explaining the importance of understanding the statistics that are being shared with you in any capacity. Self advocacy is of utmost importance at any stage of life. Attendees were shocked to learn that news is more likely to be believed if a statistic is thrown in the mix.  

In keeping with the theme of exploring math identities and access to math, the film also followed the stories of Rebecca Galicia, and Glenn Rodriguez, whose lives were greatly affected by math. Rodriquez was denied parole but used mathematical research to figure out what led to that decision, eventually earning him his release. Galicia had always been intimidated by math, building a narrative that she could never complete a nursing degree. Between her dedication and the support of several community college professors, she was able to overcome her fear of math. “Math gave me a voice,” Rebecca said. In both cases, we learn that failing math typically has nothing to do with the student but rather the institution of math education that perpetuates such high barriers. 

The overarching message of the film, simply put, is that we need everybody at the table in order to solve world crises. Math should not be a promoter of stress and fear of failure. All backgrounds and ways of learning can contribute to the solution.

Following the screening was a panel discussion led by professor of Mathematics Deb Hughes Hallett, district math specialist for Flowing Wells Demetria Murray, and former K-8 math teacher and current CRR Program Coordinator Agi Post. Instead of a typical Q&A session, the panelists started by asking everyone to discuss their thoughts on the film with those around them. The audience was engaged, participating in a cross classroom discussion about what the film covered.

“I had never really thought about what a high pedestal we as a society put math on,” shared an audience member, “the movie made me think more deeply about the narrative that I have in my own head about math.”

Learn more about the film and how to host a screening HERE and learn more about our community engagement HERE.

Thank you to the wonderful panelists for their time, as well as Galaxy Movie Theater, Popcorn Country, and The Loft Cinema for donating fun prizes to the raffle.