LearningSharingWorkingLearning

This evening I received a request to respond to this article about learning mathematics that will appear in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  (It doesn't look like a link that's long-lived, so you have my apologies up front, but the gist is: we're falling behind; not doing a good job in the way we teach math). 

My reaction:  If we want to develop a national aesthetic that understands and respects the scientific/mathematical/technical arts, we need:

• a sense of curiosity
• a respect for practice
• a learned mentor
• a community who values the output

Funny how those are the very same characteristics that support the arts, value the trades, employ skilled craftsmen.

We've lost our way.

It's my contention that if aesthetics were 9/10 of the law, this would be a much kinder, gentler, more beautiful world in which to spend our days.