Editorials
A YOUNG man who is ambitious to secure a better position than he now holds as a teacher of mathematics walked into the office of The Mathematics Teacher recently to inquire if any good positions were available. During the conversation he revealed that his membership in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics had lapsed and when offered a subscription blank said that he could not afford the two dollars necessary to subscribe for the magazine. He did, however, manage to dig up a quarter to pay for a copy of “Numbers and Numerals” which is monograph number one of the new series on “The Contributions of Mathematics to Civilization.” There is no doubt that the case of this young man is typical. Many teachers of mathematics who wonder why they do not get better positions fail to realize that it is probably their apathy toward the very organizations that might help them. Not all of them are so financially embarrassed that they cannot belong. They lack interest, enthusiasm and group loyalty. Teachers who keep up with what is going on by reading the official journal and the Year-books and by attending as many meetings of their group as is possible are, other things being equal, most likely to be leaders or at least to be successful in their field. It is to be hoped that members in addition to the regularly appointed State Representatives of the Council will do a little missionary work not only in their immediate circle, but also at any sectional meetings which they attend.