To celebrate the IMA’s 60th anniversary in 2024, a number of articles have been chosen by IMA members and MT readers, who introduce their favourite MT articles and explain why they are important to them. Here Claire Baldwin CMathTeach MIMA, MEI, introduces …
Is Mathematical Education on the Right Track? by K.L. Stretch FIMA
As a mathematical educator, reflecting back to 1976 and the changes that have happened over the last 50 or so years was an inspiration for reading this article. How have aspirations for maths education then evolved into our aspirations today?
This article examines three aspects of mathematical education: Why? What? And How?
Stretch’s argument that the design of studies should focus on ‘essential components in an intelligently designed and integrated kit of ideas, knowledge and techniques that the pupils will need for coping with adult responsibilities, both for their continuous education … throughout their lives’ resonates strongly today. Such sentiments resonate with the recent ‘Maths to 18’ agenda, the embedding of level 3 Core Maths qualifications and themes in the 2023 ACME discussion paper from The Royal Society; and Stretch’s comments about the needs for maths to offer high returns has been echoed in recent arguments to fully equip modern society for the future through mathematical education.
Other themes from Stretch include mathematical modelling, teacher supply and curriculum design, all of which echo what we might refer to recent changes, challenges and developments in maths education.
So, this article suggests that IMA was a forum for wider debates happening in maths education at the time, and initiated ideas which have continued to be present in maths education for almost half a century.
Download the article, Is Mathematical Education on the Right Track? (pdf) scanned from the 1976 IMA Bulletin, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 74–77.
