The Sociology of Mathematics Education

Mathematical Myths / Pedagogic Texts

Author: Paul Dowling Series: Studies in Mathematics Education

The author argues that the reason why children still 'fail' at maths at school - despite the shift to 'easier' and more 'approachable' maths teaching since the 1960s - is because of the textbooks in use.

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Until the 1960s, maths was studied as an academic subject in a desire to have more mathematicians. The current trend, however, has moved away from viewing maths as a purely intellectual endeavour and towards developing a more mathematically competent workforce and citizenry. This trend has seen a large increase in the number of maths schemes being produced by the major educational publishers, which attempt to make maths "easier" and more "approachable" by using language instead of symbols. So why do so many children still "fail" at maths? The author contends that to understand this, teachers need to analyze and evaluate the maths textbooks they are currently using. The author shows the reader how to systematically analyze and evaluate these textbooks. This interrogation of classroom resources, should have important implications for teaching strategies and for textbook design and use.

About the Author

Paul Dowling

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Until the 1960s, maths was studied as an academic subject in a desire to have more mathematicians. The current trend, however, has moved away from viewing maths as a purely intellectual endeavour and towards developing a more mathematically competent workforce and citizenry. This trend has seen a large increase in the number of maths schemes being produced by the major educational publishers, which attempt to make maths 'easier' and more 'approachable' by using language instead of symbols.; So why do so many children still 'fail' at maths? The author contends that to understand this, teachers need to analyze and evaluate the maths textbooks they are currently using. The author shows the reader how to systematically analyze and evaluate these textbooks. This interrogation of classroom resources, should have important implications for teaching strategies and for textbook design and use.