Some time ago I started making a list that I have since entitled "What
Everyone Should Know." I didn't restrict it to math, but most of it (due
to my own training) is math or science oriented. It was motivated, of
course, by Hirsch's _Cultural Literacy_ idea.
I've included not only things of practical nature, but things just for
fun: understanding rainbows, eclipses, satellite overpasses, etc.
But I aim primarily at those competencies that can help us appreciate the
problems that threaten our well-being: those of growing population
(exponential growth, resource availability, pollution cycling), the
economics of exploitation and poverty, problems accompanying modern
transportation (rapid spread of diseases, introductions of alien
species,...) There's lots to understand, and too few prepared to
understand them.
I've the intention to categorize items in terms of their seriousness with
regards to survival of persons (food, water, shelter,...), survival of
culture (maintenance of routine cultural practices, traditional
learning,...), physical comfort ("standard of living" sorts of things),
...
It's impossible to appreciate any of the above concerns in much depth
without understanding a good bit about abstract mathematics (algebra,
calculus, differential equations, statistics, . . .)
(The liberal use of the ellipsis reveals that it's a work still very much
in progress; it's probably a 'when I retire' project.)
Would it be worthwhile and appropriate to use this list to accumulate
specifics? I'd be happy to contribute.
John M. Flanigan <johnf@hawaii.edu> The equation is the final arbiter.
Assistant Professor --Werner Heisenberg
Kapi'olani Community College The scoreboard is the final arbiter.
Honolulu, Hawaii --Bill Walton
On Mon, 31 Aug 1998, Martha Haehl wrote:
>
> Subject: Re: [MATHEDCC] What Math Do I Need?
>
>
> Along the same subject, I am interested in starting a discussion of:
>
> "What should an educated person know about mathematics and be able to do
> with mathematics in 1998? and
>
> "What should we teach and do in college math classes to produce educated
> graduates?"
>
> Notice, the question is NOT "What topics should we keep and delete from our
> current classes?"
>
> Martha
>
>
>
****************************************************************************
* To post to the list: email mathedcc@archives.math.utk.edu *
* To unsubscribe, send mail to: majordomo@archives.math.utk.edu *
* In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: unsubscribe mathedcc *
* Words in the Subject: line are NOT processed! *
* Archives at http://archives.math.utk.edu/hypermail/mathedcc/ *
****************************************************************************