Lockhart's Lament: On Mathematics at School

When I was in high school, I played Robot Battle, a game in which you scripted behaviors for automated tanks. This gave me immediate reason to use and learn much of what I learned in math at school. The day we were taught basic trigonometry, I was on the edge of my seat, because I knew that what I was learning would be useful several hours later when I got back to coding my robots.

Of course, you can't force an interest on a child, but you can certainly introduce them to new ones.

Re: Lockhart's Lament: On Mathematics at School

#5

Post by technoguyrob » Thu, Mar 06, 2008, 9:46 PM UTC

I'm a graduate student in mathematics.

This article made me cry. Really powerful.

Re: Lockhart's Lament: On Mathematics at School

#6

Post by hhm » Thu, Mar 06, 2008, 10:37 PM UTC

technoguyrob wrote: post #5

I'm a graduate student in mathematics. This article made me cry. Really powerful.

Yes, it's a very very nice article. Actually, you put it better: very, very powerful.

Re: Lockhart's Lament: On Mathematics at School

#7

Post by manny » Fri, Mar 07, 2008, 1:22 AM UTC

As a mathematics major and having gone through some seriously crappy math courses in highschool (and even freshman college courses) including AP Calculus classes, I just want to say that I truely recommend reading this article.

It really cannot be stated any better than this, folks. Even as a math major, reading this reinspires me and refuels my passion for mathematics.

Simply lovely. :)

Re: Lockhart's Lament: On Mathematics at School

#8

Post by hhm » Fri, Mar 07, 2008, 2:47 AM UTC

huherto wrote: post #3

Very interesting. Does any one have any suggestions to interest an 11 year old about Math?

I think you have to show interest about it yourself. If you aren't curious about it, he/she probably won't either.

From time to time I talk children in my family about mathematical subjects I myself find interesting, and I know something about, such as strange stuff about infinite, mathematical logic, or crazy and counter-intuitive mathematical theorems. And they keep interested about it as long as I do. So I think that can be a way.

Re: Lockhart's Lament: On Mathematics at School

#9

Post by crystalarchives » Fri, Mar 07, 2008, 3:44 AM UTC

I wish I could upmod this so many times... Amazing article, everyone should read the entire thing.

I hated math throughout school, although I was told I was "good at it", even though I had no clue what was going on. Now I know why!

What can we do about this?!

Re: Lockhart's Lament: On Mathematics at School

#10

Post by sah » Fri, Mar 07, 2008, 4:12 AM UTC

The bit about finding the area of a triangle was great -- a quick, simple example of what math is and why anyone would enjoy it.

K-12 public school math education burned me so bad that I didn't realize how much I love math until my mid-20s. (These days I'm reading about abstract algebra for fun!)