For me, it’s a nightmarish phrase, and if I never heard it again, I would be content.

While math has always been problematic for me, a recent MSU study has shown I may not be alone. For students who are still in middle school, the focus on the importance of math seems to be crumbling. The study, called Mathematics Teaching in the 21st Century, or MT21, concluded that middle school math teachers are not prepared to teach math to their students.

According to the survey, future math teachers tested the worst in algebra, an important part of middle school math curriculum.

If the teacher isn’t good at algebra, how can they expect their students to excel?

The problem is the kinds of classes future teachers take while in college, or so the survey says. For the many education majors at MSU, this probably strikes a sensitive cord. They are basically being told they’re doing it all wrong, not only in the courses they take, but also the college experiences they have.

But instead of laying all the blame on the teachers, let’s think about what the students have to bring into the equation (no pun intended). Yes, teachers should be up to par in the subject they are teaching, but in order for a student to get a grip on math, they also should contribute.

If we want teachers to go that extra mile, so should the student. Maybe middle schoolers feel the way we felt when we were in their position: It doesn’t matter yet. We’ll worry about it when the time comes. These grades don’t “count.”

But if problems in a school subject are ignored at a young age, it could prove problematic later on when our society has an even greater need for engineers and other fields that require strong math skills.

These middle schoolers may not seem important to college students, but believe it or not, they are going to run our country some day. They should know their stuff.

Maybe you look back on a certain subject and wish you had understood it better or cared more in general when the classes were easy and homework was minimal.

A below-average math teacher is likely to hinder student learning, but it’s never too early for students to ask for help before they fall behind.

Instead of lecturing your younger sibling on the importance of learning math now, you could help them. I know we are ridiculously busy with our own agendas, but even asking them how classes are going when you are home will let them know someone cares about their schooling.

Sometimes it’s easier to hear why homework matters from an older sibling than from a parent, and later on they may even thank you for it.

Don’t have a younger sibling? There are plenty of mentoring and tutoring opportunities to take part in if you want to make a difference in a young student’s life. Any bit of help could make a big difference in the student’s future.

Instead of pointing fingers at future teachers, let’s try and help out middle school students before math scores — and other course grades, for that matter — worsen.

Marilyn King is a State News staff writer. Reach her at kingma15@msu.edu.