Book Review: A Review of The New Math: A Political History
For mathematics educators of a certain age or those with particular expertise in the history of mathematics education, the appearance of a book that purports to describe, analyze, and explain the “new math” movement of the 1950s and 1960s quite reasonably prompts the question: What else could possibly be said about that iconic era? Others with less experience in or historical knowledge of the field might pass on the book because they are only vaguely aware of the new math as a longago and thoroughly discredited effort to reform school mathematics curricula and teaching. However, I think mathematics educators in both groups–knowledgeable veterans and newcomers to the field–will find Christopher J. Phillips's retelling of the new math story a fascinating read that is filled with timeless insights into the academic and political dynamics of school mathematics and, more broadly, American education.
Review††Edited by Adrian Rice and Antoni MaletAll books, monographs, journal articles, and other publications (including films and other multisensory materials) relating to the history of mathematics are abstracted in the Abstracts Department. The Reviews Department prints extended reviews of selected publications.Materials for review, except books, should be sent to the Abstracts Editor, Sloan Despeaux, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723, USA. Books in English for review should be sent to Adrian Rice, Department of Mathematics, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA 23005-5505, USA. Books in other languages for review should be sent to Antoni Malet, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Department of Humanities, Ramon Trias Farga 25–27, Barcelona, 8005, Spain.Most reviews are solicited. However, colleagues wishing to review a book are invited to make their wishes known to the appropriate Book Review Editor. (Requests to review books written in the English language should be sent to Adrian Rice at the above address; requests to review books written in other languages should be sent to Antoni Malet at the above address.) We also welcome retrospective reviews of older books. Colleagues interested in writing such reviews should consult first with the appropriate Book Review Editor (as indicated above, according to the language in which the book is written) to avoid duplication.
