[Mahh]

>But I’m convinced that almost anyone can be drawn into maths if they are presented with something intriguing or surprising which prompts them to want to investigate

That's what I used to think when trying to get other students into programming -- like getting a kid do say 'Holy crap, I just created multiplication'. But it doesn't seem to work that way.

I've come to be used to the concept that other people think on a completely different plane than me, so it's pretty hard or often just doesn't work at all to try to find this 'intriguing or surprising' thing that can get them others to be interested.

[dwc]

I agree with you. But I have to add that there's a big difference between math anxiety and disinterest in pursuing a graduate degree. There's nothing wrong with someone choosing to pursue something else even when shown the intrigue and beauty of math (or programming). But there's everything wrong with the mind-numbing approach to math taken now.