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Consciousness in exspansion
Posted:
Oct 27, 1998 3:07 PM
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I have found the standards themselves to be an interesting focal point
for the establishment of a integrated and united view of mathematics
(in regard to teacher approach). For the Standards 2000, I believe
that the mathematical process should be extrapolated to society as a
whole.
Let me explain briefly what is meant by the mathematical process. It
is my standpoint that the mathematics that is focused upon in the
classroom (adding, division, calculus etc.) is a by product of a
certain level of understanding of "reality". An example is, how these
fields were discovered in the first place. They arose out of certain
experiments which manifested from a thought process. In turn the
products of this thought process (mathematical operations and studies)
has been used inversely to try an bring forth these trains of thought
from students and those without this "naturally" occuring (to a great
degree). The products have also been applied to the sciences which
have had a retroactive effect of invoking new pathways in thought.
By extrapolating the mathematical thought process to society as a
whole, I mean that this subject should not be isolate. It is extremly
limiting to think of just mathematics education as a subject in
isolation. If we just change the curriculum, this is just like
trimming a branch off of a diseased whole. The Disease is still
present. The main enemies of the mathematical mindset are: ignorance,
lack of awareness, and fear. All of these are siblings.
Mathematics is a wonderful and powerful pathway to the evolution of
the human species which transcends culture, race, sex and almost any
other form of separation category we can come up with. The emphasis in
the standards 2000 should be in the exspansion of mathematics to all
arenas (in a virus like concept) where math goes, ignorance and fear
fleas in terror. Also there it would be of benefit to discuss
mathematical mindset and it's implications on societal issues,
(basically it would eliminate 90% of the wasted and prejudicial
beliefs of humanity). I recognise that this view may be a bit abstract
to many of you, and encourage an interchange. This is a war. A war of
thought. A process of evolution, and hope for the future. On Y Va!
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