Date: Feb 23, 2001 3:54 PM
Author: Dianzhou Zhang
Subject: Question 2

What role does "real life mathematics" have in the classroom?

Some would say that Chinese mathematics education is too pure. Others would 
say that basic mathematics must be pure.

[Background]  Chinese mathematics teaching emphasizes knowledge of 
procedures and algorithms. Real life mathematics is important, but not at 
the abstract level. Pure mathematics consists of algorithms. Developing 
logical thinking is important too.