Mathematics for the billion

Nityananda, Rajaram (2014) Mathematics for the billion. Current Science, 107 (07). pp. 1087-1088. ISSN 0011-3891

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Abstract

No child can go through school without studying mathematics, and the vast majority of professional courses need some mathematics as well. How we should, and should not, be handling the curriculum and its delivery in schools and colleges in our nation of a billion plus is surely worth examining. The title is also meant to evoke Lancelot Hogben’s 1936 book Mathematics for the Million. The author was a Fellow of the Royal Society of London on the strength of his zoology and genetics, and indeed crossed swords with the legendary R. A. Fisher on nature versus nurture. He was also a committed socialist, and like his friend J. B. S. Haldane, believed in writing on science for a large audience, out of strong conviction that it would be of benefit to society as a whole. Given the rise of computation and data analysis, coming generations are going to confront even more mathematics in some form. The case for a wide appreciation and understanding is clear even without mantras like the ‘knowledge society’

Item Type: Article
Authors: Nityananda, Rajaram
Subjects: Social sciences > Education > Science education
Natural Sciences > Mathematics
Divisions: Azim Premji University > School of Arts and Sciences
Full Text Status: Public
Related URLs:
URI: http://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/id/eprint/138
Publisher URL: http://www.currentscience.ac.in/php/toc.php?vol=10...

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