I think a lot of it is the educational system. Educators treat math with voodoo gloves because they don't like it, and kids learn that attitude from them, leaving everyone involved with a "don't make me get too close" attitude towards math.
I was exceptionally fortunate to have a math teacher in high school who is probably one of the best high school teachers in my state. She loved math. She was excited as hell to get to teach it every day. I had her for 7 of my 8 HS semisters, and I credit much of my appreciation for math to her. I was still never a good math student - B+ at best due to lack of discipline in cross-checking answers and the like - but I loved (and still love) math. Calculus was such a blast for me that I took it twice in HS (the second time around for college credit).
I think the other half of the equation is that math is hard. It requires a level of mental discipline and precision that most people don't possess, and have no interest in possessing. I think that for most of us here, who have at least some interest in programming, this isn't obvious. We think in discrete terms and proof-like concepts, but most people don't. Math takes more brainpower and more self-discipline than most any other primary education subject, and people naturally follow the course of least resistance.
I was exceptionally fortunate to have a math teacher in high school who is probably one of the best high school teachers in my state. She loved math. She was excited as hell to get to teach it every day. I had her for 7 of my 8 HS semisters, and I credit much of my appreciation for math to her. I was still never a good math student - B+ at best due to lack of discipline in cross-checking answers and the like - but I loved (and still love) math. Calculus was such a blast for me that I took it twice in HS (the second time around for college credit).
I think the other half of the equation is that math is hard. It requires a level of mental discipline and precision that most people don't possess, and have no interest in possessing. I think that for most of us here, who have at least some interest in programming, this isn't obvious. We think in discrete terms and proof-like concepts, but most people don't. Math takes more brainpower and more self-discipline than most any other primary education subject, and people naturally follow the course of least resistance.