Dear Ms. Dawson.
From the number of responses that I have seen, I am not certain that you will be aware of my reply. Nevertheless, I would enjoy offering a comment or two regarding your interest in movies and the introduction of math and science in the English classroom.
I have been involved in a science and engineering for many years now and notice that a major difference I witness between the graduates entering these professions today versus yesterday is their inability for the most part to communicate effectively with their coworkers and peers, appropriately document their work, or work beyond basic technicalities. Please don't misunderstand me. There are some that are extremely intelligent and do good work, however, many times, there is a depth that is missing. I believe that there is so much more that their minds could contribute if only they were inspired to do so.
I personally believe that one item that is missing is a fundamental training in the classics. While an aspiring student of English literature may be interested in the works of British authors, John Locke, Greek or Roman mythology, many math and science majors are probably unaware of Viete, Peacock, Gibbs, Cayley, or the history of algebra (classical vs. abstract) for instance. Also, I can't remember any class that I participated in in either high school or university that exposed me to the classics. For that reason I was quite bored in many of the English classes that I participated. I discovered the classics later from my father, an engineer, and from reading about mathematicians and scientists of yesterday that pursued them as well.
It is my opinion that this training provides the aspiring mathematician, scientist, or engineer fundamentals and foundational thinking. It is not enough to be taught how to do mathematics or what equation is used for what. The real beauty and artistry of mathematics lies in understanding the foundation of what you are attempting to do. Why was it created? What problem was the creator attempting to solve? What motivated them? Like the winding forest path that leads to the mountain meadow, the mathematics presented in great works leads the reader and practitioner to an understanding of its beauty as well.
Regarding your question about movies. Interest in movies, I realize, is a very personal thing, but I have always appreciated scientific biographies about the men and women of science. Most are pretty old. Today, I enjoy the Discovery Channel a lot... anything that teaches or broadens my mind as to what is possible. Modern science fiction is not of much interest to me as I have never been interested in space aliens and the like and after the movie is over, I feel rather empty. The only sci-fi movie I ever attended more than once was 2001, A Space Odyssey. I felt that it was closet to realistic technology, I didn't see any weird creatures, and the music was fabulous. Also, too many movies today contain much objectionable content. I don't personally enjoy spending any amount of money to sit in front of a screen and be subjected to profanity.
Thank you for the opportunity to express my opinion and thank you for your interest and desire to inspire others who pursue mathematics and science.
Wishing you the best.
As by this theory, innumerable transitional forms must have existed. Why do we not find them embedded in the crust of the earth? Why is not all nature in confusion instead of being, as we see them, well-defined species?
Slashdot Mirror
Dear Ms. Dawson. From the number of responses that I have seen, I am not certain that you will be aware of my reply. Nevertheless, I would enjoy offering a comment or two regarding your interest in movies and the introduction of math and science in the English classroom. I have been involved in a science and engineering for many years now and notice that a major difference I witness between the graduates entering these professions today versus yesterday is their inability for the most part to communicate effectively with their coworkers and peers, appropriately document their work, or work beyond basic technicalities. Please don't misunderstand me. There are some that are extremely intelligent and do good work, however, many times, there is a depth that is missing. I believe that there is so much more that their minds could contribute if only they were inspired to do so. I personally believe that one item that is missing is a fundamental training in the classics. While an aspiring student of English literature may be interested in the works of British authors, John Locke, Greek or Roman mythology, many math and science majors are probably unaware of Viete, Peacock, Gibbs, Cayley, or the history of algebra (classical vs. abstract) for instance. Also, I can't remember any class that I participated in in either high school or university that exposed me to the classics. For that reason I was quite bored in many of the English classes that I participated. I discovered the classics later from my father, an engineer, and from reading about mathematicians and scientists of yesterday that pursued them as well. It is my opinion that this training provides the aspiring mathematician, scientist, or engineer fundamentals and foundational thinking. It is not enough to be taught how to do mathematics or what equation is used for what. The real beauty and artistry of mathematics lies in understanding the foundation of what you are attempting to do. Why was it created? What problem was the creator attempting to solve? What motivated them? Like the winding forest path that leads to the mountain meadow, the mathematics presented in great works leads the reader and practitioner to an understanding of its beauty as well. Regarding your question about movies. Interest in movies, I realize, is a very personal thing, but I have always appreciated scientific biographies about the men and women of science. Most are pretty old. Today, I enjoy the Discovery Channel a lot... anything that teaches or broadens my mind as to what is possible. Modern science fiction is not of much interest to me as I have never been interested in space aliens and the like and after the movie is over, I feel rather empty. The only sci-fi movie I ever attended more than once was 2001, A Space Odyssey. I felt that it was closet to realistic technology, I didn't see any weird creatures, and the music was fabulous. Also, too many movies today contain much objectionable content. I don't personally enjoy spending any amount of money to sit in front of a screen and be subjected to profanity. Thank you for the opportunity to express my opinion and thank you for your interest and desire to inspire others who pursue mathematics and science. Wishing you the best.
As by this theory, innumerable transitional forms must have existed. Why do we not find them embedded in the crust of the earth? Why is not all nature in confusion instead of being, as we see them, well-defined species?
dabolay