How Old Is the Shepherd?

An Essay About Mathematics Education

U.S. students go through

school with serious
misconceptions about
mathematics. According to Ms.
Merseth, parents, the popular
media, and the schools
themselves reinforce these
mistaken notions.

By KATHERINE K MERSETH

E
ACH WEEKDA\ during the
school year. some 25 million
children study mathematics in
~ .S. schools under the carethi
supervision ot classroom teach-
en. using textbooks that publishers have
spent millions of dojian to dovel i ~pand
print. With this impressive invesunent.of
human and nionetar3. capital. why is ii
that our students perform as if their cur-
riculum and instruction were on the cut-
ting edge of mediocrity? Why is it that,
on tirtuafly every international compar-
ison of teaching and learning of mathe-
matics, the performance of chddren in the
U.S. ranks near the bottom?
In order to focus discussion, consider
die jul lowing uuineiis ical pi oW cm.

There are 125 sheep and S dogs9 in a

flock How old is the shepherd

KATHERINE K MERSETH is a lecturer in

education and director of the Rodenck Mac
dougall Cenur for Case Development and
Teaching at the Graduate School of Maca-
non, Har,’ard University. Cambridge, Mass.

548 PHI DELTA KAPPAN uilUsnaliG,. by Siwm. Süithd

 Researchers report that three out of out of 10 eighth-graders and two out of not talking, then students are typically en-
four schoolchildren will produce a nu- three 12th-graders held the opinion that gaged in silent seatwork, practicing page
merical answer to this problem. A tran- there is always a rule to follow in solv- after pa’e of procedures and contrived
script of a child solving this problem ing a mathematics problem) This belief “story problems” and having little or no
aloud reveals the kind of misinformed in the sanctity of rules is clearly illus- interaction with peers. Instead of discov-
conception of mathematics that many trated by the children~sresponse to the ering and waiting their own meaning of
children hold: shepherd problem. But in the real world mathematics, the students’ job in this
of mathematics, nothing could be further environment is to memorize and absorb
[25+5=130. - - thisistoobig,and from the truth. directions and information from others.
125—5=l2Oisstilltoobig. while The work of mathematicians and of These experiences convince elementary
125±5=25.That works! I think the those individuals who use mathematics students that mathematics is someone
shepherd is 25 years old.
to design such technologies as weather else’s subject — certainly not theirs. One
In this child’s world, mathematics is satellites, the Patriot missile system, or group ofresearchers found that, “in math,
seen as a set of rules — a collection of the paths that our intercontinental tele- students indicated a strong dependence on
procedures, actually — that must first be phone calls follow is not governed by the teacher as a source of learning rela-
memorized and then correctly applied to simple rules and formulas, instead, math- tive to other sources. . . .This seems to
produce the answer. Examining the tran- ematicians participate in a problem-solv- go along with the students’ beliefs that
script, we see that this student is not with- ing process that is interactive and often they cannot learn math on their own; at
out reasoning ability. Indeed, the accu- quite fluid. Some individuals have de- least they would need some knowledge-
rate deduction about the appropriateness scribed this process as a zigzag path” able authority to provide assistance. Self-
of the shepherd’s age shows some sense- from conjectures to explorations of the instruction using books or other sources
5
making. In spite of this reasoning. how- conjectures through refutations and back is less conceivable in math.”
ever, the child apparently feels compelled to reformulated conjectures) Mathe- Perhaps the most crippling beliefabout
to produce a numerical answer. How fre- maticians offer hypotheses, or educated mathematics in our society is that it is a
quently teachers see this eagerness to be- guesses, changing their ideas and their difficult subject that can be mastered only
gin writing and manipulating numbers approaches in response to new arguments by a very small minority — those with
before the situation is fully understood! and discourse. When these individuals special gifts or abilities. A predominant
America has produced a generation of “do” mathematics, they creatively com- view in America is that one either “has
students who engage in problem solving bine a variety of techniques, hunches, it” or one doesn’t. Effort receives little
without regard for common sense or the and ideas, constantly “re-forming” their credit for contributing to successful learn-
context of the problem. Why is this so? attempts to reach a solution.~A rigid set ing in mathematics — or, for that mat-
Three factors must bear the blame: so- of rules is anathema to the creative prob- ter, in any sohject For example. Ameri-
cietal beliefs about mathematics, the typi- lem solver. can, Japanese, and Chinese mothers were
cal curriculum in use in our schools, and Second. many individuals believe that asked what factors among ability, effort,
the preparation of our teachers. mathematics is a static body of knowl- task difficulty, and luck made their chil-
edge. And what is taught In school re- dren successful In school. Ainedean moth-
inforces this notion: most schools cur- ers ranked ability the highest, while Asian
SOCIETAL BELIEFS rently teach eight years of 18th-century mothers gave high marks to effon. This
A number of widely held beliefs about shopkeeper” arithmetic, followed by a led the researchers to conclude that ‘the
mathematics adversely affect the abili- year of 17th-century algebra and a year of willingness ofJapanese and Chinese chil-
ty of children and adults to experience geometry, basically developed in the third dren to work so hard in school may be
mathematics in productive, meaningful century B.C. Even calculus, as taught in due, in part, to the stronger belief on the
ways. These beliefs profoundly influence today’s schools, is three centuries old. part of their mothers in the value of hard
7
the way in which mathematics is taught, Very few students and adults are aware work.”
studied. and understood. that, with advances in such areas as fmac- The belief in innate ability not only
Many individuals believe that mathe- tals, discrete mathematics, and knot the- minimizes personal responsibility but also
matics is a largely rule-oriented body of ory, more mathematics has been discov- tosters the view that poor pertormance
knowledge that is acquired through the ered in the last 35 years than in all pre- in mathematics is socially acceptable.
memorization of discrete number facts vious history. Little of this new materi- Many well-educated individuals proclaim
and algorithmic rides. For example, in al, however, makes it into the schools or without embarrassment. “1 could never
a survey of eighth- and 12th-grade stu- the public discourse. do mathematics!” or “I never liked the
dents, researchers found that 40% ofstu- This belief in the fixed nature of math- subject!” Jokes about antisocial, absent-
dents at both grade levels agreed with ematics also influences the way the sub- minded, and “nerdy” mathematics profes-
the statement that mathematics Is a set of ject is presented in the classroom. The sors teinfotce this negative image.
rules, while 50% of the eighth-graders dominant mode of mathematics instruc- These beliefs have shapedthe views of
and 25% of the 12th-graders stated that tion in American classrooms is “teacher many elementary teachers and are par-
mathematics involves mostly memoriz- talk,” with the teacher or adult “telling” ticularly damaging because they are com-
ing. Lending further credence to this the student what rule or algorithmic pro- municated, either consciously or other-
rule-bound conception of the field, eight cedure to follow.’ And if teachers are wise, to impressionable young children.

MARCH 1993 549

 Many teachers at the elementary level knowledge.°Intuitive knowledge repre- way that provides for the further depth
feel inadequate when it comes to mathe- sents an understanding that is derived of understanding. Bruner felt that the cur-
matical knowledge and ability. Conse- from specific contexts and relates only riculum should revisit basic ideas repeat-
quently, in the elementary school day, to those contexts. Computational knowl- edly)’
mathematics takes a back seat to reading edge enables one to perform activities Unfortunately, the implementation of
and is often relegated to the period after with numerical symbols according to the spiral curriculum has been less than
lunch, when students are not as alert or previously determined and generalizable ideal. Instead of deepening a child’s un-
engaged. Mathematics and, even more rules. This is the most common form 01 derstanding, much of the curriculum sim-
so, science receive less instructional time mathematical knowledge presented in ply rehashes the same material in the
than reading — no doubt at least partly schools. Concrete knowledge involves same way, time and time again. As one
to minimize the discomfort ofthe teacher. knowing how to manipulate concrete ob- teacher wryly noted. “If Johnny doesn’t
When children come home and ask ques- jects or representations of them to solve get multiplication in third grade, he’ll
tions about mathematics, parents often a problem. Finally, principled conceptual have another chance in fourth, fifth.
answer defensively that mathematics was knowledge represents the understanding sixth, seventh, and eighth grades.” This
always hard for them or that they always of abstract principles and concepts that repetition deadens the mind and breeds
found it something of a mystery. The govern and define mathematical thinking low expectations.
message is, “Don’t ask me about that! It’s and procedures. Some cognitive scientists The percentage of new content that stu-
not something I value.” Children’s per- suggest that real mathematical under- dents meet as they move through com-
ceptions about mathematics and science standing is a combination of these differ- monly used textbooks illustrates this rep-
are profoundly shaped by influential ent ways of knowing mathematics. etition, Between grades 2 and 8, the third
adults, marty of whom harbor negative ln present-day math textbooks and class- grade is the only grade in which more
feelings toward those subjects. rooms, intuitive and concrctc knowlcdgc than 50% of the material in the textbook
receive little attention. In fact, far from is new to the student. And, in middle
being rewarded, intuitive knowledge is school, 60%. 65%, and 70% of the ma-
THE TYPICAL CURIUCUIAJM discouraged in some classrooms. For ex- terial in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades
A second factor that influences the ample, if a student solves a mathemati- respectively is a rehash of earlier top-
poor performance of children in mathe- caL exercise in her ‘own” way, she may 2
ics,’ No wonder students find mathe-
matics is the curriculum typically avail- not receive credit because her method matics uninteresting.
able to teachers. The mathematics cur- differs from the teacher’s or text’s ap- Finally, textbook material is outdated
riculum in use in America is outdated, proach, even though the result is correct. and outmoded. While technological chang-
repetitious, and unrepresentative of the Principled conceptual knowledge re- es have transformed the marketplace and
evolution of the field. Because curricu- ceives even less emphasis. The stress is the consumer world, mathematics curric-
lum is the primary means by which chil- on computation and procedure, not un- ula continue to stress basic operations.
dren learn about mathematics, this sorry derstanding and sense making. As a re- Important topics such as probability and
situation significantly hinders achieve- sult, children come to believe, as in the statistics (including the ability to assess
ment. instance of the shepherd, that any ques- one’s chances on the lottery) or mathe-
in America, textbooks determine what tion in a mathematics class must have a matical modeling and data analysis are
is taught in schools and the ways in which numerical answer. in fact, the majority either buried in the final chapters of the
material is presented. Textbooks form the of elementary students in a recent study textbook or given no consideration at all.
backbone as well as the Achilles’ heel defined tiwtittiiuttes as dealing with nuns- As a result, children who attend our
of the school experience in mathematics. hers and the four basic arithmetic opera- schools have few opportunities to develop
The dominance of the textbook is illus- ‘°The current exclusion of intui- the tools and the mental apparatus to un-
trated by the finding that more than 95% tive, concrete, and conceptual knowledge derstand complex situations. The Mathe-
of 12th-grade teachers indicated that the from our nation’s textbooks virtually guar- matical Sciences Education Board sum-
textbook was their most commonly used antees that children will not be exposed marized the situation in American schools
8 today:
resource. Reasons for the dominance of to this broader conception of mathemat-
the textbook include the lack of a national ics.
curriculum and national examinations in A second problem with the mathemat- Of the 25 million children who study
the U.S. as well as the power of publish- ics curriculum is an overreliance on the mathematics in our nation’s schools
ers and the politicized process of state concept of a spiral curriculum. Stated every weekday those at the younger
textbook adoptions. eloquently by Jerome Bruner, the argu- end — sonic 15 million or ~ — will

American textbooks stress computa- ment for such a curriculum was that chil- enter the adult world in the period
1995-2W). The 40 classroom minutes
don, algorithmic procedures, and artifi- dren are able, at a very early age, to com-
they spend on mathematics each day
cial “story problems.” These emphases prehend powerful ideas in mathematics are largely devoted to mastery of the
misrepresent the broad scope of niathe- and science. Bruner suggested that stu- computational skills which would be
matical knowledge. Magdalene Lampert dents should be exposed to such ideas needed by a shopkeeper in the year
posits that there are four types of mathe- early and then, as their sophistication and 1940, skills needed by virtually no one
matical knowledge: Intuitive, concrete, mental acuity Increase, they should ex- today. Almost no time is spent on esti-
computational, and principled conceptual plore the same concepts in an extended mation, probability, interest. histo-

550 PHJ DELTA KAPPAN

 grams, spread sheets or real problem- ucation’s dirty little secret.” While the sion for their subject and a love oflearn-
solving, things which will be common- situation is pervasive, it is particularly ing, and certainly teachers benefit from
place in most of these young peoples apparent among new hires: some 12.4% tatting them. But the issue here is one of
later lives. While the 15 million of of all newly hired teachers in 1985 were balance. Is it more appropriate for teach-
them sit there drilling away on those not certified in the fields to which they ers of mathematics to explore, for their
arithmetic or algebra exercises, their 3 were assigned.’~And this figure is much own intellectual stimulation, esoteric
future options are bit-by-bit eroded.’
higher in the inner city, where the enor- topics that are distant from the classroom,
The possibility of a mathematically and mous challenges of the context create a or is it more fitting that they explore, in
scientifically literate citizenry will remain perennial shortage of teachers. depth, the mathematics that they will
elusive as long as the current textbooks Certification procedures offer little re- teach in order to foster this level of un-
and the misapplied concept of the spiral assurance. Elementary teachers typical- derstanding in children?
curriculum endure. ly earn general teaching credentials for A second critical factor tied to the
grades K-S or K-6. Few elementary teach- training of teachers is that teachers tend
em take higher-level mathematics courses, to teach the way they were taught. There-
ThE PREPARATION OF TEACHERS fore, it is important to look at the donu-
and most have only one or two courses
The third major cause of the disap- in the teaching of mathematics. This lack nant mode of instruction in institutions
poSing performance of students in math- of training translates directly into a lack that educate teachers. A vast majority
ematics has to do with the preparation of confidence. of college-level mathematics classes are
ofthe teaching force. If teachers prepare At the secondary level, the academic taught by the lecture method — a meth-
students poorly, it is due in large part to preparation of teachers appears — at least od perhaps appropriate for some portion
deficiencies in their own training. While on paper — to be stronger. Secondary of the college curriculum and for high-
many teachers do an excellent job, by mathematics teachers, on average, report- ly motivated learners, but decidedly in-
some accounts nearly one out of every ed taking nine semester-length courses in appropriate for exclusive use in K-12
two math and science teachers does not mathematics,’~However, it is important schools. Dearly, there is a problem if this
possess adequate subject-matter train- to look at the content of these courses. is the prospective teacher’s only model,
ing. This situation results from a fairly in many cases, content was highly spe- because it is likely that he or she will
common practice of assigning teachers cialized and had little to do with materi- leach the same way. David Cohen and
to teach classes in fields outside their al that teachers were currently teaching Deborah Ball, professors ofeducation at
areas of competence or certification, Al- or would be teaching in the future. Such Michigan State University, sum up the
bert Shanker has called this practice “ed- courses help teachers to maintain a pas- sorry state of training for mathematics
teachers by asking pointedly, “How can
teachers teach a mathematics they nev-
er learned, in ways they never experi-
6
enced?”’
In addition to the challenge of devis-
ing appropriate academic training of math
teachers, the teacher education commu-
nity must rethink the process by which
one becomes a teacher. Teachers learn
about teaching in four settings: as stu-
dents observing other teachers teach, as
undergraduates or graduates studying in
teacher education programs, as student
or intern teachers in schools, and as prac-
ticing professionals on the job- Current-
ly, these four learning environments op-
erate in isolation from one another. A
prospective teacher gains academic train-
ing in one location while issues of prac-
tice and implementation are explored
elsewhere. This separation between the-
ory and practice, content and method,
produces false and limiting dichotomies
that fragment and disable teacher educa-
tion.
Finally, the U.S. faces a serious sup-
ply problem with respect to mathemat-
“I couldfidfih/ their sight to know, ifthcy’djust exercise their right to remain ics teachers. While some 15% to 20% of
silent. entering freshmen in four-year colleges

MARCH 1993 551

 intend to major in math or science, only sion, while not exhaustive, outlines spe- ematical learners are not “blank slates”
50% of these individuals actually grad- cific actions that, taken together, offer or “empty vessels” waiting to be instruct-
uate with a degree in either field. And a plan to reverse the failure of children ed, Instead, the learner, armed with per-
the ranks continue to dwindle in graduate to gain mathematical knowledge. sonally constructed theories, creates com-
school - so that the number of American- plex schemata ofunderstandings that in-
born students graduating with Ph.D. de- fluence and help interpret further learn-
CONTRIBUTIONS OF COGNITIVE SCIENCE ing. Cognitive scientists call these self-
grees in math and science is an embar-
rassment to our education system. Both the materials and the methods constructed theories “naive” theories.
To bring the problem into clearer fo- used to educate children in mathematics In some instances, these naive theories
cus, consider the following picture. Start require substantial revision. Before ex- are accurate: in other cases, they are not.
with 100 students in the ninth grade. Ac- ploring specific suggestions, however, it What has surprised researchers is the te-
cording to national averages, some 75% is important to examine what is known nacity with which people cling to these
to 76% of these students will graduate about the ways in which human beings beliefs. For example, students who had
from high school four years later (that understand mathematics. These relatively successfully completed one year of col-
percentage is considerably lower for in- new findings from the world of cognitive Lege physics instruction — many ofwhom
tier-city youths). Of these 75 youngsters, science should have a considerable im- had received A’s or B’s in the formal
60%, or4S young men and women, wilt pact on the type of materials and the ap- course — were found to continue to hold
enter four-year colleges. Ofthese 45 stu- proaches to instruction that are necessary inaccurate beliefs about motion.
dents, 40% will graduate from college to produce greater understanding. Cognitive scientists believe that learn-
four years later, leaving us with 18 grad- A new consensus about the nature ol’ ers construct understandings by building
uates. Of these 18,6% to 8% will have learning, particularly in the fields of relationships and connections with prior
majored in mathematics or science. That mathematics and science, is emerging. knowledge. Tlicy do not sintply absorb
means that, from our sample of 100 ninth- One of the most powerful findings in this what they are told without reflecting on
graders, one student will have pursued new view is that children — and adults, it or relating it to prior beliefs and un-
a degree in math or science within the for that matter — come to mathematical derstandings.’~To understand is to know
“ordinary” time frame. and scientific learning with surprisingly relationships. In this paradigm, as learn-
extensive theories about how the world ers learn, they store knowledge in clus-
or a particular phenomenon works. Math- ters and organize these clusters into sche-
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?
Given this scenario, with multiple and
interrelated factors fueling the failure
of many children and adults to develop
a useful understanding of mathematics,
what can be done? The first step is to
recognize that the mathematical educa-
tion of young people is entangled in a
complex web of problems. Efforts with
a singular focus of curricular revision,
teacher education, or the retraining of ex-
perienced teachers will stretch the web
in only one direction. To change cugic-
ulum without changing teaching prac-
tice or to increase societal interest while
teaching the same tired curriculum would
be folly. Instead, a multifaceted and com-
prehensive effort is necessary — one that
stretches the constraining web in many
different directions, causing it to break.
As Lauren Resnick, a noted cognitive
psychologist, says of the necessary math-
ematical reform effort: “We’ll have to so-
cialize [studentsl as much as to instruct
them.””
Several fundamental activities are cen-
tral to any mathematics reform effort and
must focus on four areas: the nature of
the curriculum, the nature of instruction,
new forms of assessment, and beliefs ‘Because daddy doesn want to know how to write 23 using base 2.”
about mathematics. The following discus-

552 PHI DELTA KAPPAN

mata, so that all learning depends on el. They would assist other teachers with
THE NATURE OF INSTRtJCrI0N
prior knowledge- Prior knowledge results mathematics instruction, develop and se-
from a combination of formal learning The new understanding of how indi- lect curricular materials, and teach math-
and naive theories. It is this linkage be- viduals learn mathematics and science ematics lessons and classes,
tween new knowledge and old that cx- will also have a profound impact on the The training of mathematics specialists
plains the tenacity of “naive” theories° methods used to leach these subjects. should consist of in-depth study of the
“Teaching as telling” can no longer be the subject matter, including the material
operative form of instruction in mathe- taught itt the schools. In addition, to bet-
‘l’HE NATURE 01’ CURRICULUM matics classrooms, Instead, multiple op- ter enable them to lead at the local site,
This new conception of the learner -as portunities must be provided for students these teachers should acquire a firm
a constructor of knowledge is central to to engage with mathematics. grounding in cognitive theory, adult de-
any consideration of new curriculum, We Teachers also need to ofièr students velopment, and school reform.
need materials that evoke active, rath- avenues ofexploration that will lead them
er than passive, participation Pages of to a direct confrontation with their naive
NEW FORMS OF ASSESSME~’I’
mindless computation do not foster the theories- This means that teachers must
construction of new knowledge. Learn- anticipate that, as we saw with the shep- The third focus of reform must be as-
ers need the opportunity to collect, gener- herd story, children frequently rush to sessment. Changing the form, content,
ate, and frame their own problems and compute; teachers must also take tirtie to and objectives ol’ assessment is thequick-
inquiries. The lcarner must be in the listen to and explicitly acknowledge chil- est way to stimulate change in curricu-
driver’s seat. dren’s ideas. Both time and intellectual lum and instruction. Pressure from local
In addition, topics not previously ex- effort are essential to this process of”un- school boards and state legislatures for
plored in traditional curricula must be packing” children’s ideas in order to fos- greater accountability makes testing a
added. Changes from an agrarian society ter deeper understanding. This type of most powerful influence on teaching.
to a technical/information society demand teaching requires substantial subject-mat- While some may view the power of test-
that literate citizens be familiar with such ter expertise as well as a willingness to ing as dangerous, it is possible to exploit
concepts as mathematical modeling, dis- share authority and control with learners, its influence in ways that will ftel rather
crete mathematics, and data analysis. An Another important implication of cog- than extinguish reform in mathematics
example of discrete mathematics would nitive science for teaching methods is that education. Orienting the content and the
be the decision process whereby a Street multiple representations and explanations forms of assessment to problem solving,
sweeper is routed through a town so that are necessary - Individuals construct their critical thinking, and analytical reason-
the fewest number ofstreets possible will own knowledge, and their constructions ing will change classroom practice.
end up being swept twice- Many schedul- are triggered in myriad ways. While a Whether teachers use tests provided
ing, sorting, and other processes that in- picture may appeal to one person. a rule by publishers with their textbooks or na-
volve a series of “yes/no.” “on/off,” or or an analogy may serve another. Tell- tionally normed tests such as the Iowa
“in/out” decisions make up the essence of ing students “one way” is not sufficient Tests of Basic Skills or the Metropolitan
discrete ruatlienratics, With the exception fut the learning of alt. Multiple ‘up’ eseti— Aettievett,e,tt Tests, ttie coiiteitt and style
of individual projects funded by the Na- tations and approaches are integral to suc- of these instruments have been profound
tional Science Foundation and scattered cessful teaching and learning. barriers to reform. Machine-scored fill-
across the country, curricula focusing on The enhanced understanding of student in-the-blank or multiple-choice tests do
these new topics are not available, and adult cognition also defines paths of not provide meaningful measures of high-
Substantial curriculum development ef- reform in the education of both new and er-order thinking and reasoning skills;
form are necessary, but they must also be experienced teachers, Courses and work- therefore, these skills are not taught.
undertaken in a new way. Greater atten- shops that stress the interrelationships Some institutions and states are mov-
tion must be given to the lessons learned between subject-matter knowledge and ing to new forms of assessment that re-
from the debacle of ‘new math” and to methods of representation and instruction quire students to write essays, do science
our increased knowledge about the imple- must be central to both preservice and in- experiments, and describe their reason-
mentation of curricular ideas, New math servtce training programs. ing processes. California. Vermont, Con-
failed because little effort was made to Because it will be difficult to find suf- ncclicut, and Kentucky are leading the
introduce elementary teachers to the ma- ficient numbers of teachers to teach in way in this field. These new approaches
terials and teaching approaches. Rocent this new, informed way, teacher educa- are intended to test “those capacities and
1
research on the California Framework, tors should focus first on the education habits we think arc essential.” ’
a newly revised state-Level curriculum, of mathematics specialists at the elemen- To reform mathematics learning, we
tells us that it is not sufficient to intro- tary and secondary levels. An initial goal need assessment instruments that meas-
duce new curriculum in a “top-down” is to ptacc a mathematics specialist in ore students’ ability to mak~c scnsc of
mode. Without substantial support, teach- every elementary and secondary school complex situations, to formulate and re-
ers simply teach new ideas in old, un- in the country. These individuals would line hypotheses. to work with poorly de-
productive ways.~Successful curricular have a dual role as instructional and cur- fined problems or problems with more
reform requires informed staff develop- ricular leaders in mathematics and as than one solution, and to define and state
ment and the engagement of teachers, change agents at the school or district 1ev- probIems.~If assessment instruments in-

MARCH 1993 553

 eluded items such as the following recent Workshop, explicitly appeal to children a goal our society can and must achieve.
example from the Connecticut Common between the ages of 8 and 12 while pre-
Core of Learning Assessment Project, senting realistic problems and engaging
I - Kurt Reusasr, “Problem solving Beyond the Log-
educational practice would change quIck- subject matter- Unfortunately, these shows
ic ofThings: Textuat and contextS Effects onUn-
ly, “It is asserted that 7% of the people scramble for funding each season, keep- dersunding and Solving Word Problems.” paper
in the United States eat at a McDonald’s ing a close watch on their ratings and presented at the annual meeting of the Amencan
restaurant every day- There are 250 mil- market share. Their existence, however, Educational Research Association. San Francisco.
demonstrates that expertise is available 1986.
lion Americans and 7,000 McDonald res- 2. Curtis McKnighr et at. - The (Inderachiedag Cur-
taurants. Is this assertion possible?” Ask- to produce public and commercial tele- ricaltin, (Champaign, lii,: Stipea Publishing, 1987).
ing students to solve this type of prob- vision for children and adults. All that 3. tmre Lakatos, &og5’ and Refiutaiions: The Logic
lem will have a significant impact on is lacking is the will. of Mathematical ascoveay tNew York: Cambridge
Video rentals offer another powerful University Press, 1979).
what and how mathematics is taught. 4. Magdalene tampers, “When the Problen Is Not
means to broaden the understanding of the Question and the Solution Is Not the Answer,’
adults and children about mathematics. American Educational Research Journal, vol. 27,
BELIEFS ABOUT MAThEMATICS Visit a video store today, and it is nearly 1990, pp. 29-03.
impossible to find a videotape that ex- 5, Susan Stodoisky, The Subject Matters: Class-
A change in beliefs about mathemat- room Activity in Math and Social Studies (Chica-
ics (and science) will require an unusual plores mathematics, With conscious ef- go: University of Chicago Press, t958),
commitment from federal, state - and lo- fort and adequate financial support, this 6. susan Stodolaky. soon Salk, and Barbara Gtaesa-
cal governments as well as from the pop- situation could change, and videos could net’, ‘Student Views About Learning Math and So-
be produced that teach as well as enter- cial Studies,’ American Educational ResearchJour-
ular media. Governments can improve nal, vol. 28, 1991. p. l~.
the image of mathematics by launching tain- 7. Harold Stevenson. Shin-Ying Lee, and James
a public relations campaign to recognize Newspapers, magazines, and radio al- St,gtcr, ‘Mathematics Achteventnt ot Chinese, Jap-
and honor mathematical achievement, so influence mathematical understand- anese. and American Children,’ Science, vol. 231,
1986, p. 697,
President Clinton could demonstrate his ing. While some newspapers devote a
8. McKnight. op. cit.
agility at the computer — or governors, particular day of the week to “science 9. Magdalene Lampert, “Knowing, Doing, and
mayors, and legislators could spend time news,” much more could be done. Why Teaching Multiplication,’ Cognition and Instruc-
in inner-city classrooms as teachers or not a section in every issue? Why not ar- tion. vol. 3. 1986, pp. 305-42.
tO, Stodotsky. Salk, and Glaesaner, op. cit.
aides- ticles written for various age groups on
Ii. Jerome Bnmer, The Process qf&Juarrion (Cam-
In addition to symbolic support, feder- specific topics? And what about other bridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1960);
al and state governments can offer finan- media? Milk cartons, candy bar wrap- and idem, human Growth and Development (Ox-
cial support. President Kennedy pledged pet’s, and cereal boxes are held and ex- ford: Ctarendon Press, 1976).
to provide the human and financial re- amined by millions of children each day. 2. James Flanders. ‘How Much of the Content in
Mathematics Texthool<s ta New?,’ Arithmetic Teach-
sources necessary to put an American on What would it take to print a “math mes- er. September 1987, pp. 18-23.
the moon; Apollo II illustrated the power sage” on each? Why not introduce “math 13, Mathematical Sciences Education Board, The
of such a federal commitment. minutes’ on radio stations, to be broad’ Teacherof Mathematics: issuesfor Todayand To-
cast prior to each sports report or stock morrow (Washington. DC,: National Academy
Local governments can also sponsor Press, 1987), pp. 2-3.
events that foster a positive view ofmath- market summary? 14, Valena Plisko and Joyce Stern, eds., The Con-
ematics. Melbourne, Australia, for ex- Some activities, such as television or tilt/on of Education (Waslting(on, DC.: National
ample, has “mathematical trails” — walk- video productions, are costly, while oth- Center (or Education Statistics, U.S. Department
ing tours ofthe city that highlight mathe- ers, such as walking tours and milk car- of Education, rggs)-
IS- Meknighr, op. cit.
matical features of the community. Citi- ton messages. are not, Does America 16, David Cohen and Deborah Loewenberg Ball,
zens are encouraged to see their neigh- have adequate financial resources to un- ‘Policy and Practice: An Overview,’ Educational
borhoods through mathematical lenses, dertake these activities? The answer must Evaluation and Policy Analysis. vot. 12, 1990, p.
An activity for state and local govern- be yes, if there is a conviction that math- 233.
ments in the U.S. might be to explore ematics can improve the quality of life 17, Lauren Resnick, “Treating Mathematics as an
Itt-Structured Discipline,’ in Randall Charles and
probability and statistics as they relate to for all citizens, The popularization of Edward Silver, eds.. The Teaching and Assessing
state lotteries. mathematics does not have to remain a qfMathematical Pm61ens Solving (Reason, Va.: Na-
fantasy. tional Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 1988).
Television also holds great power for
Changes in the mathematics education t:’~ 58’
shaping beliefs. While other countries IS. Lauren Resnick, “Matisematics and Science
such as Britain offer television shows for of our young people will depend on many Learning: A New Conception,’ Science, vol. 220.
adults that feature mathematical problem individuals working in multiple areas and 1953. pp. 477-75; and Herbertthnsburg, ed.. Chit-
drenY Arithmetic,’ How They Leant Jr and How You
solving, nothing similar exists in the U.S.sharing a common vision of what is pos- Teach it (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University
To produce such a program would not be sible. It is within our reach to have high- Press, 1977).
difficult. Public television has marie im- ly literate citizens who will read the story lP~Recnic’k, ‘Ma,lw,maricc and Science learning.’
portant efforts top~~children’s shows ofthe shepherd and smile, knowing that 20. Cohen and Bait, op. cit.
2t - Grant Wiggins, ‘Teaching to the (Authentic)
that stress problem solving and mathe- the data are insufficient to determine the Test,’ Educational Leadership, April 1989. p. 41.
matical and scientific knowledge. The pro- age of the shepherd. Mathematics need 22. Calirot-nia Math Council, Assessment Alterna-
grams “3-2-1 Contact” and “Square One not be the purview of the few; it must tives in Mathematics (Sacramento: Calirornia State
TV,’ created by the Children’s Television be made available to everyone. mar is Department of Education, 1939),

554 PHI DELTA KAPPAN