SAPERE
Social and Moral Implications of Mathematics Teaching
from
instruction by the teacher
NB : creates three social divisions in any average class
P - Can articulate in teachers' language.
S - Learns selfishness to defend advantage; exhibits lack of interest
in other pupils.
M - Admires teachers: until autonomous.
P
- Can imitate teachers' language.
S
- Learning dishonesty to conceal lack of understanding; strong group identity;
learning that obedience is accepted by authority as understanding; whole group
rejects obviously bewildered; likes few teachers; readily flouts authority;
openly despise 'swots' and 'thickies'.
P
- Cannot understand or obey instruction.
S - Rejected by others; socially withdrawn or disruptive to stop further
discrimination.
M - hates teachers and system; sees self as victim.
from
discussion of text by whole class
(aka The Socrates Method)
NB. now no divisions; comments now refer to whole class
P
- Beginning with poor language skills; learning to overcome difficulties
of translating written text into own words;confidence increasing by seeing
and hearing others struggling with the same.
S - Learning honesty in admitting errors and not understanding; being respectful of others' attempts; patience in listening; care in criticising and also in accepting criticism.
M - Learning the joy of co-operative effort; the value of correction
and advice; increasing pleasure in group's and personal success; becoming
capable learning autonomously. Enjoying lessons!
Div
I
:
Div II:
Div III:
presented
to SAPERE conference, Oxford, November 2004 © Colin Hannaford, IDM, 10
Marlborough Court, Oxford OX2 0QT
www.gardenofdemocracy.org; democracy@maths90.freeserve.co.uk
