Student teachers' evaluations
of two talks at Mercer University, Georgia
Teaching and Learning Mathematics
29th September and 1st October 2005

1.

   "When Colin Hannaford came to speak to our class I thought that it was going to be something that would not catch my interest, but after he began to speak on his views of the three divisions I knew that this was going to be interesting. When you sit in a classroom today you see what he is speaking of: the [three] 'Divisions' .. So what are we to do?.. if we start with the younger generation and show them that they have the information in their own hands .. showing them that the text book is where they can understand more and get the answers to their questions .. [this] will improve not only the child's but the teacher's and the parents' views on education today."

2.

   "Democracy is the only way to manage and benefit from diversity. This is why mathematics is itself democratic. .. to learn to use mathematics as the tutor of democracy could create the foundation of an enduring peace. If people believe it is God's plan that only a fraction of mankind shall survive, and it is them, they should listen to another message. The Kingdom is not, actually, up there; it is within us. Instead of learning to kill those whom they are sure are evil, or let them die, which is much the same. people could learn to listen, to learn from others, to be unattached and attentive. .. Mathematics is democracy's life-blood. Democracy is in danger because we cool this life blood down .."

3.

   "The typical teaching method for math today has made people shut off from math. Many believe it is too difficult to learn. We have been brainwashed to believe that only the very intelligent and superior can be successful in math. I believe Hannaford is writing not only for teachers and students but also to all Western citizens. He wants us to understand that math is .. a universal living adaptive language. The Greeks changed and suppressed math's social role to suit the Roman Empire. We, the present majority, deny math's social role and power."

4.

   "Mr Hannaford made the decision that he would not only help his students understand math, but would also point out where .. the breakdown occurred, and how to put the student on the right path .. requiring the student to go back and read the material again and again. .. I felt drawn to him because he made the effort to acknowledge the problem at its root. I felt as though he was personally speaking to me and understood my shortcomings regarding math.

5.

   "As teachers we are a profession that is creating problems in every generation that must be addressed by future generations. .. teachers must be removed as the primary focus in the classroom. .. the teacher must simply serve as a facilitator in the classroom to promote class discussion [of the meaning of the text in their text-book]. If this is achieved in our classrooms today, then we will undoubtedly see a change for the better tomorrow in the improved educational development of our children."

6.

   "He shows that democracy cannot be achieved by war, but by having respect for one another. .... When I was young, if you asked questions, you were considered stupid. [In any average class] Division One consists of pupils who are the superior group. They become very selfish. Division Two 'are not properly able to understand what their teachers are saying, but they soon find that so long as they do not openly confess to not understanding, and if they exclude all who are openly perplexed, their own appearance of understanding will be rewarded almost equally as well as if it is real'. The Third Division can neither understand, obey, nor even copy well enough to succeed. They are a very angry group .. The Third Division has no faith in democracy and generally will not vote.

7.

   "These devastating facts of selfishness, obedience, lying, frustration and anger categorize children for the rest of their lives. .. Where education and self-esteem should be started in the home environment, sadly in today's society many working and/or uneducated parents merely tolerate their own children. .. To be able to break down the boundaries between 'geeks', 'politicians', and 'delinquents', teachers need to be aware what their efforts can do. .. Being human and to be able to see others make mistakes will allow each individual to accept their own mistakes without destroying their confidence. Thank you, Colin Hannaford, for your efforts to better our children's future.

8.

   "[The] calm in the middle of one international educational storm after another .. one of the most intrepid and inspired men I have met .. able to connect practical and internal social dynamics of classroom mathematics .. I have begun to move forward regarding my fear of mathematics. I must drop the frog bucket scenario .. My feeling today is that I can stand and deliver. I deem it an honor as well as a pleasure to have been able to sit at the foot of such a scholar."

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