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Having earned an undergraduate degree in math I've often had similar thoughts about US elementary math education's emphasis on rules and mechanical calculation

Having earned an undergraduate degree in math I've often had similar thoughts about US elementary math education's emphasis on rules and mechanical calculation and memorization rather than more abstract concepts like pattern matching. Turns out there was a thing called "New Math" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Math https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Math) in the 1960s where public elementary schools tried to teach concepts from set theory and abstract algebra. Basically everyone hated it. Perhaps there was just a curriculum failure, or perhaps teachers weren't well-equipped enough to teach the material. But we can't ignore the attempt and need to come up with an answer for why New Math failed before we can try it again.

jeffsco 11y ago
I was taught the "New Math" as a child and did not hate it. It was wonderful. When I look at math blogs today, they use notation and terminology I learned back then. This is a tremendous advantage (or so it seems to me).
- mlvljr 11y ago
  And everyone else just curses when they open a Wikipedia article for smth that is supposedly (and actually) not that complex, but is explained in those terms, still :)
  - stuxnet79 11y ago
    This is a big problem in my opinion. I read a blog post recently that kind of discussed it: http://rajlaboratory.blogspot.ca/2013/12/the-over-mathification-of-wikipedia.html http://rajlaboratory.blogspot.ca/2013/12/the-over-mathificat... Wikipedia should be a resource for the average layman, not mathematically mature individuals who comprise the minority.
semi-extrinsic 11y ago
Obligatory Tom Lehrer: https://youtu.be/DfCJgC2zezw https://youtu.be/DfCJgC2zezw
plonh 11y ago
New Math assumed young students had a capacity for mental abstraction that most young students simply lacked. Also, like every other reform, it suffered because math illiterate parents (who know basic by rote by more) didn't understand their kids' curriculum. Students with high aptitude (including many here on HN) thrived in New Math and became among the highest achievers in adult mathematical activity.

jeffsco 11y ago

I was taught the "New Math" as a child and did not hate it. It was wonderful. When I look at math blogs today, they use notation and terminology I learned back then. This is a tremendous advantage (or so it seems to me).

mlvljr 11y ago
And everyone else just curses when they open a Wikipedia article for smth that is supposedly (and actually) not that complex, but is explained in those terms, still :)
- stuxnet79 11y ago
  This is a big problem in my opinion. I read a blog post recently that kind of discussed it: http://rajlaboratory.blogspot.ca/2013/12/the-over-mathification-of-wikipedia.html http://rajlaboratory.blogspot.ca/2013/12/the-over-mathificat... Wikipedia should be a resource for the average layman, not mathematically mature individuals who comprise the minority.

semi-extrinsic 11y ago

Obligatory Tom Lehrer: https://youtu.be/DfCJgC2zezw https://youtu.be/DfCJgC2zezw

plonh 11y ago

New Math assumed young students had a capacity for mental abstraction that most young students simply lacked. Also, like every other reform, it suffered because math illiterate parents (who know basic by rote by more) didn't understand their kids' curriculum. Students with high aptitude (including many here on HN) thrived in New Math and became among the highest achievers in adult mathematical activity.