A Redefinition of Secondary School Mathematics

1936 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-19
Author(s):  
Leroy H. Schnell

Mathematics is alarmingly on the defensive. Much that has been traditionally sacred to us is rapidly disappearing from the curriculum. Our past security is vanishing into thin air. The writers of the National Committee Report admitted that, “the subject must, like others, stand or fall on its intrinsic merit or on the estimate of such merit by the authorities responsible at a given time and place.”1 Seven years later Betz stated that, Geometry shares with Algebra and Latin the fate of being on the defensive.”2

1928 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-162
Author(s):  
Louis A. McCoy

In the work of teaching secondary school mathematics in a large school where there are as many as twelve different divisions of the same subject, it would be very interesting and indeed very enlightening to see the different grades of work being done. Different teachers have their own pet ways of doing things, of presenting new matter, of conducting recitations, of drilling on old matter, of developing mathematical power in their pupils, etc. And yet they are all striving for the same results. The fact that one teacher's pupils consistently attain better results naturally should put a premium on that teacher's methods, and the work of the department would be improved if some of the other teachers would take a leaf out of the successful teacher's book. Students will often remark “So and So is a good teacher; I get a lot out of his class; he makes things clear; he has good discipline; he certainly gets the stuff over, etc.”An inspector visits the class, notes the attitude of the pupils, the personality and skill of the teacher, and oftentimes is familiar enough with the subject matter of the recitation to see if the pupils are catching and giving back the right things, and then grades the teacher as an Al man, for example. But does the opinion of the boys themselves or the visitor answer the question whether or not the teacher is successful in giving his subject to the pupils? Don't we need something more objective, more tangible, more exact on which to pin our faith? In general the supervisors are hitting it right, also the students, but we think we can do better.


1924 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-30
Author(s):  
Jonathan T. Rorer

The present tendencies in high school mathematics are well reflected by the report of the National Committee on Mathematical Requirements, which was organized in 1916, and which has completed the most exhaustive research ever attempted into the conditions now existing in mathematics teaching. The work of the National Committee already has had a far-reaching influence on mathematics teaching. It represents a great piece of cooperative work, a systematic presentation of the thought and practice of many members of this association and of other teachers interested in the improvement of mathematics teaching. It will be for a long while a standard source of information for anyone who desires to know modern tendencies in secondary school mathematics.


1942 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 321-324
Author(s):  
Ralph D. Shamhart

We are living in a world which is incurably mathematical. Everyone knows it. The simplest article of manufacture is subject to the rules of mathematics in production and sale. To list the uses of the subject would be impossible and futile. Yet mathematics has come under criticism as a subject to be taught in om schools.


1930 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 358-372
Author(s):  
J. S. Georges

The Purpose Of This study is to present a systematic classification of the mathematical literature which relates to the problems in the teaching of secondary school mathematics and which has been written during the last three decades. This literature consists of a large number and variety of articles published in numerous educational and mathematical journals, a smaller number of special studies dealing with specific problems, some books on the psychology and teaching of the subject, a few books of a general nature discussing the philosophical aspects of the concepts and principles of elementary mathematics, and unpublished theses. The collection and presentation of this vast material in a connected form is a much needed, though laborious and difficult, task. Its classification will be based upon three distinct, and at the same time inter-related principles: first, that there is a real need for a summary of the problems relating to the teaching of secondary school mathematics; second, that these problems should be analyzed in the light of available literature; and third, that the sources of references dealing with each problem should be brought together.


1966 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-249
Author(s):  
Sister Ann Xavier

Anyone interested in the teaching of secondary school mathematics cannot but be impressed and overwhelmed by the vast number of texts and visual aids which have been produced within the past few years. It came, therefore, as a surprise to find, when looking for a filmstrip on the introduction of the trigonometric functions, that none was available. Visual aids on the subject of trigonometry seemed limited to numerical applications in the right triangle. Out of this fruitless search was born a challenging and satisfying project. If we could not purchase the filmstrip we wanted, we would produce our own.


1921 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-41

For the convenience of the reader, parts IV, V, and VI of the National Committee Report on Junior High School Mathematics are reprinted here. The complete report, Secondary School Circular No. 6, July, 1920, may be secured from the U. S. Bureau of Education. Following the reprint are five discussions of the report.


1922 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-78
Author(s):  
Raleigh Schorling

The National Committee on Mathematical Requirements, working under the auspices of the Mathematical Association of America, and numerous cooperating organizations, has prepared various reports dealing with the reorganization problems of secondary school mathematics. There is a growing sentiment against accepting materials of instruction or even outlines of courses that express merely an individual's opinion, especially if that opinion is not based upon class-room experience. Rut it is equally important to realize that a curriculum constructed in committee sessions, differs only in degree, not in kind. Fortunately, a milestone on the road of progress in education has been reached, which indicates that committee work that would eventuate, must be prefaced and supplemented by carefully made inventories of the experience that bears upon the problems studied. In consequence, a number of sub-committees have made studies of some of the details involved in the fundamental recommendations of the National Committee. One of these investigations deals with experimental courses in mathematics.


1926 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-51
Author(s):  
Chester G. Bandman

It is a significant and compelling fact that an inordinate percentage of high school pupils regard the subject of mathematics as drudgery and that the percentage of failures is usually larger in mathematics than in almost any high school study. There is undoubtedly a close correlation between the two statements.


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