Some Considerations Appertaining to the Content of High School Mathematics

1934 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-52
Author(s):  
Gordon R. Mirick
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
First Year ◽  
Analytic Geometry ◽  
High School Mathematics ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Mathematics Courses ◽  
Solid Geometry ◽  
The Subject

Recent years have witnessed a change in the content of courses in mathematics for the seventh, eighth and ninth grades. There has been a change not only in content but in the point of view in the teaching of the subject. A study of the mathematics courses offered to first-year students in our various colleges reveals two important changes. First, the elements of analytic geometry and of the calculus are introduced earlier, and second, there is much less emphasis on Euclidean solid geometry. Pupils who do not take this subject in high school often miss it in college, for the number of colleges offering a course in Euclidean solid geometry is fast diminishing.

Let’s Use Trigonometry

1975 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-160
Author(s):  
John J. Rodgers
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Subject Matter ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
High School Mathematics ◽  
Mathematics Courses ◽  
High School Geometry ◽  
School Geometry ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Order Of Presentation

All too often in the teaching of high school mathematics courses, we overlook the inherent flexibility and interdependence of the subject matter. It is easy to fall into the trap of presenting algebra, trigonometry, geometry, and so on, as separate areas of study. It is because they were taught this way traditionally. With relatively minor changes in the order of presentation, we can demonstrate to the student the vital interconnectiveness of mathematics. For example, many courses in high school geometry include a unit on trigonometry. The student learns three trigonometric ratios, namely, the sine, the cosine, and the tangent. He also learns to use the trigonometric tables to solve for an unknown side of a right triangle. Generally this material comes quite late in the year.

ONE POINT OF VIEW: Girls Need Mathematics, Too

1980 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 5-7
Author(s):  
Dora Helen Skypek
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Mathematics Education ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
High School Mathematics ◽  
Mathematics Courses ◽  
Minimum Number

Sex-related inequities in mathematics education have been documented in many contexts. Less than one-third of the females among the freshman classes at our major universities have the prerequisites in high school mathematics to qualify for the range of undergraduate majors offered. The options for males are much wider. Two thirds of them have completed the minimum number of high school mathematics courses (including trigonometry) prerequisite to admission to any program.

Using research in teaching: Notes from National Assessment: addition and multiplication with fractions

1976 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-142
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Carpenter ◽  
Terrence G. Coburn ◽  
Robert E. Reys ◽  
James W. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Junior High School ◽  
Mathematics Curriculum ◽  
Junior High ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
Upper Elementary ◽  
High School Mathematics ◽  
National Assessment ◽  
Mathematics Program

Development of computational skills with fractions has long been a part of the upper elementary and junior high school mathematics program. Current movements toward metrication have led some individuals to suggest that decimals will receive more attention in the mathematics curriculum with a corresponding de-emphasis on fractions. The suggestion may find an increased number of supporters, as recurring evidence indicates that pupil performance with fractions is discouragingly low. An alternative point of view is that although metrication may somewhat alter work with fractions, their importance within the structure of mathematics and to applications justifies their continued emphasis in the curriculum.

Interest of Pupils in High School Mathematics and Factors in Securing It

1927 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-38
Author(s):  
Alfred Davis
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Present Status ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
High School Mathematics ◽  
Single Class ◽  
Class A ◽  
The Subject

A few years ago attention was attracted to the high percentage of failures among pupils taking high school mathematics. Sometimes as many as 50% or even more would fail in a single class. A little consideration would have convinced the teachers that such a situation must soon attract unfavorable criticism, and that this might be expected from those who were not most favorably disposed towards the subject. At a time when every subject was to be tried and judged, not according to its past achievements, nor according to its future possibilities, but according to present status alone, someone was certain to take a one-eyed view of high school mathematics and condemn it as an unsuitable subject to be required of all high school pupils.

No Home Work for Mathematics Pupils

1921 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 334-336
Author(s):  
Horace C. Wright
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
First Year ◽  
High School Mathematics ◽  
Home Work ◽  
The University ◽  
Mathematics Department

In August, 1919, at a departmental meeting of the University High School mathematics department, I asked for permission to conduct a section of first year pupils without assigning them homework. Permission was granted and the idea was carried out in all the freshmen mathematics classes.

So-called Shortcuts Often Cause Confusion

1947 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-64
Author(s):  
Edith L. Mossman
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Senior High School ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
Eighth Grade ◽  
First Year ◽  
High School Mathematics ◽  
College Mathematics ◽  
Algebra Theory ◽  
And Algebra

In arithmetic through the eighth grade and in first year algebra, is not the thorough understanding of fundamental principles of first importance? That this need of first importance has not been generally taken care of, is evidenced in many ways: (1) Such reports as that given by Admiral Nimitz, pointing out the weakness of our boys in junior and senior high school mathematics. (2) J. Kadushin's statements about the inability of men in the factories to handle simplest work in fractions, and their fear of taking any course in mathematics. (3) Constant complaint from teachers of physics, chemistry and algebra theory as to ignorance of the formula: what it is, what can and cannot be done to it. (4) The experience of much tutoring going on in universities, showing that great numbers have trouble with college mathematics because they did never really understand their work in arithmetic and algebra.

Geometry is more than proof

1981 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Hoffer
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The University

Each year we ask many of our first-year students at the University of Oregon to list the mathematical subjects or topics that they liked best and topics they liked least in their precollege classes. Although several subjects were “favorites,” the subject that was almost universalJy disliked was geome- try in high school.

Election of High School Mathematics by Females and Males: Attributions and Attitudes

1981 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan Daniels Pedro ◽  
Patricia Wolleat ◽  
Elizabeth Fennema ◽  
Ann DeVaney Becker
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Mathematics Performance ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
Advanced Mathematics ◽  
High School Mathematics ◽  
Mathematics Courses ◽  
Small Set ◽  
Advanced Mathematics Courses

Males, more than females, elect advanced mathematics courses. This differential in the number of mathematics courses elected has been cited as a major explanation of sex-related differences in adults' mathematics performance and in their participation in mathematics-related careers. Knowledge about some of the variables that enter into the decision to persist in the study of mathematics is essential for those who are interested in encouraging females, as well as males, to adequately prepare themselves in mathematics. This study identified some attitudinal and attributional variables that relate to the election of mathematics courses by females and males. A small set of variables was found to explain some of the variance in female and male mathematics plans. These results might help in understanding why females do not continue in as large a proportion as males to elect mathematics and/or to enter mathematics-related careers.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document