Mathematics As the Most Misunderstood Subject

Lilith's Heart-shape writes "Dr. Robert H. Lewis, professor of mathematics at Fordham University of New York, offers in this essay a defense of mathematics as a liberal arts discipline, and not merely part of a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) curriculum. In the process, he discusses what's wrong with the manner in which mathematics is currently taught in K-12 schooling."

Comments

Re:he's right

[Khyber]

"The problem with teaching is all the generalists who think because they have a "Degree in Education" they are able to teach any topic."

This times OVER NINE THOUSAND.

There are no more than TWO other people of my intelligence level, able to grow crops without light. AND EVERY DAMNED BIT INVOLVES MATHEMATICS.

And I'm absolute SHIT at anything above calculus, yet I manage to outdo programmers and most biological physicists in my own self-made branch of science, no matter how hard they try, because I've spent my entire life in the particular field and just used my math knowledge to boost the productivity and knowledge level.

Too bad potheads across the internet forums can't get rid of the lumen and deal with photon flux density. :(

Re:he's right

[Khyber]

"specialist teachers with a passion and enthusiasm for maths? i've only ever met one"

Get ready to meet me and have nightmares for decades as you try to figure out how to save the human race from starvation, son.

Protip: I've already got the resources to feed 8+ billion right now if no interference happened from humans and all I had to handle was weather. Without humans or weather, I could feed 12 billion without needing to flick a flea from my skin, assuming the greedy politicians weren't involved.

The joys of running a multi-national crop production company by proxy of acting director of research.

Re:he's right

[Khyber]

"I had teachers with a passion and enthusiasm for maths all the way through school. Condolences for your experience."

I'd rather have condolences for the teachers that had to deal with insanity that ultimately proved itself true in my time.

Told you idiots to not vote for Bush vs Dukakis. I even wrote such a scenario in Elementary school.

And Bush did EXACTLY what I said and you all laid down to let it happen. You ignored the prior Bush takeover that was stopped by Smedley Butler.

You are too predictable, even to children with a better sense of right and wrong. Too eager to please the leaders, too cowardly to fight against their tragic assails against common human rights.