Olympiad doesn't mean math talent pool
The defeat of Chinese students at the hands of their US counterparts at this year's International Mathematical Olympiad has sparked a public discussion. But this is not the first time that China has lost in the IMO - this is China's sixth loss in the 25 years it has been participating in the contest.
The loss has prompted some to say the authorities should pay greater attention to Olympiad math by, for instance, restoring its original status. But there is confusion here. What the education authorities can manage is "nationwide Olympiad math training" in elementary schools, which is totally different from the IMO, a top international math contest for high school students.
Many math experts agree that rigorous Olympiad math training in elementary schools has nothing to do with cultivating mathematical thinking. Instead, it can spoil students' interest in the subject. And, with the education authorities making progress toward a balanced compulsory education system, the nationwide fever for Olympiad math is subsiding.
