»The Importance of Math and Science in General Education«

I shouldn't answer to threads like this b/c of my unhealthly relatioship with teachers: we hate each other, but i think math & science are in fact important in general education. Well done

posted by a

in-my-opinion.org -> Misc -> Anything that doesn't fit in any other category -> The Importance of Math and Science in General Education

Mathematics has two branches: pure mathematics and applied mathematics. I see three problems here:

1. How do we differentiate between the two?
2. How do we determine the importance of pure mathematics?
3. How do we impress the importance of applied mathematics upon students?

Mathematicians themselves sometimes have difficulty differentiating between pure and applied mathematics. Pure mathematics may not seem useful at any given point in time, however:

en.wikipedia.org…

a part of mathematics, which was considered only of interest to mathematicians, has frequently later become applied mathematics because of some new insight or field of study opening up, as if it anticipated later needs.

So if we can answer #3, then the other two problems become clear --- pure mathematics are useful because they could someday become applied mathematics, and the distinction between the two is then of much lesser significance from the point of view of a student.

posted by Tiefling

Tiefling:

So if we can answer #3, then the other two problems become clear --- pure mathematics are useful because they could someday become applied mathematics

So what? Theoretical ballet will become practical ballet. Still doesn't raise the value of ballet a tiny bit.

posted by knn

knn:

So what? Theoretical ballet will become practical ballet. Still doesn't raise the value of ballet a tiny bit.

Assuming for a minute that "theoretical ballet" actually exists, then yes, you're completely right, the value of ballet does not change in the slightest by the differentiation between the two.

But this isn't a topic about the value of the arts (I'd flag your post as off-topic, but somehow your posts are never off-topic...). It's a topic about impressing the value of general math on students. I don't think any of us on IMO question the value of applied mathematics:

en.wikipedia.org…

The problem is that many students are close-minded toward math and science. And the problem Lara is encountering is in persuading them otherwise.

posted by Tiefling

Tiefling:

But this isn't a topic about the value of the arts

Yes, it is partly. Because the value of arts is compared to the value of math.

posted by knn

knn:

Yes, it is partly. Because the value of arts is compared to the value of math.

Then explain what the value of math is in relation to the value of arts.

posted by Tiefling

Knn:

Tiefling:But this isn't a topic about the value of the arts

Yes, it is partly. Because the value of arts is compared to the value of math.

Knn, if you notice, I titled the post "The Importance of Math and Science in General Education" not "The Importance of Math and Science in General Education compared to the Importance of the Arts". I wanted decent imput as to peoples thoughts on math and science as a part of general education. And from those who agree with me that is important, how do you address students that disagree. So please, don't hijack the topic. If you'd like to discuss the importance of the arts as part of a general education, please start a new topic. I'd love to read, and participate in it! Yes, oh yes.. keep going

posted by Laraimaem

Laraimaem:

Knn, if you notice, I titled the post "The Importance of Math and Science in General Education"

The title has a great value but is limited. The topic of the thread is defined by the title AND the content of the first post.

posted by knn

Knn:

The topic of the thread is defined by the title AND the content of the first post.

Okay, I can see this. But my point still stands: no where in the content of the first post is anything mentioned about the importance of math and science compared to the importance of the arts. There is no mention of the arts at all in the content of the first post. It was purely about the importance of math and science. Wink

posted by Laraimaem

A friend of mine works in property development. The other day, one of their houses sold for $349,000. She told her co-worker that the house sold for $349,000, and her co-worker responded, "Geez, that's almost a quarter of a million dollars ."

That's why math is important --- so you don't end up really dumb.

posted by Tiefling

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