Post: What has changed?
Posted by: Old Fogey, sort of on 6/26/09
Not sure if I'll express this adequately, but here goes...
I've been wondering lately what has changed, in say the
last 30 years, in math learning and education? I worry
each day about how to teach more effectively so my students
will grasp math concepts with true and deep understanding.
I don't think my math teachers worried too much about that
when I was growing up...or at least I don't remember. Were
there just as many students "left behind" 20-30 yrs. ago as
there are today in their understanding of math?
I hear some of my friends say, "Well, I was never good in
math", or "I can't help my own kids with all the new
math". I would like to do some type of retrospective, or
read something (anyone have any recommendations?) about the
change in math education in this country from about 1950
until now. I grew up in th e 60's and 70's and it seems
like we just did math, no big deal. Now there's this BIG
focus on it...like EVERYONE has to be a whiz in math.
Well, that's just not realistic.
What I'd like to do is find some of my old math
teachers..if they're not dead...and ask them.
