Sense and nonsense in a modern school mathematics program
If there is one phrase today that is prominent in the literature and conversation of all persons, professional and lay, and yet very nebulous, ambiguous, and meaningless in the minds of most of these persons, it is “modern math” or “the new math.” Now Modern Mathematics, as exemplified in such topics as Modern Algebra, Linear Algebra, Point-Set Topology, Algebraic Topology, Finite Mathematical Systems, Set Theory, and the like, is an exceedingly abstract, logical, axiomatic, well-structured system of knowledge. There is no nonsense in these branches of mathematics. They are pursued by students majoring in mathematics and science at the upper university and graduate levels of study. They have no place—no place—in elementary school mathematics. To do any of this mathematics in the elementary school would be more than nonsense—it would be insanity.