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Whatever K12 math education is aimed at, I don't think it can possibly be "producing mathematicians." Producing human computers, maybe.
by closeparen 8y ago
Whatever K12 math education is aimed at, I don't think it can possibly be "producing mathematicians." Producing human computers, maybe.
- wcarey 8y agoI've long suspected that K-12 math was designed as vocational training for the job "computer", which was a common job in the defense industry prior to its replacement by electromechanical and digital computers. For example, the computation of the firing tape measures for US artillery in WW2 would require enormous, precise calculations of just the sort that one practices in K-12 mathematics.
- barry-cotter 8y agoK12 Mathematics education is mostly a giant waste of time, teaching children things they’re just barely capable of learning now that they can pick up in a fraction of the time a few years later. Sudbury and other democratic schools can teach the entire primary school math curriculum to 12 year olds in around 40 hours. You can teach a nine year old to read to grade level in about the same amount of time. Primary school education works wonders at teaching children to sit still, do what they’re told and doing complex, boring tasks on command but as education it leaves a huge amount to be desired.