Empowering teachers

Children learn to enjoy mathematics: this
is an important goal, based on the premise
that mathematics can be both used and
enjoyed life-long, and hence that school is
best placed to create such a taste for
mathematics. On the other hand, creating
(or not removing) a fear of mathematics can
deprive children of an important faculty
for life.
•
Children learn important mathematics: Equating
mathematics with formulas and mechanical
procedures does great harm. Understanding
when and how a mathematical technique is to
be used is always more important than
recalling the technique from memory (which
may easily be done using a book), and the
school needs to create such understanding.
•
Children see mathematics as something to talk
about, to communicate, to discuss among
themselves, to work together on. Making
mathematics a part of children’s life experience is
the best mathematics education possible.