Re: [MATHEDCC] Liberal Arts Math

Al Roy (aroy@BRISTOL.MASS.EDU)
Tue, 02 Sep 1997 12:54:17 -0400 (EDT)

Hi Martin,
The math you refer to is Liberal Arts Math. The very meaning of the
Liberal Arts is content for its own sake. It is knowledge worthy of a
free person. Usable or practical content is not "Liberal". Usable or
practical content belongs to a General Education not a "Liberal" one.
Studying the structure of mathematics, its beauty,its deductive nature is
proper content for a course in "Liberal Arts " Math. Applications are
found in General Education courses. I think there is some confusion in the
ranks over Liberal versus General course content.
Keep the Faith,
Al

On 27 Aug 1997, Martin KALMAR wrote:

>
> Barbara Arementa wrote that her math department's criteria for the contents
> of a liberal arts math course was "make it relevant...real life...usable"
>
> I wonder if anyone out there thinks that there is any value in teaching
> mathematics that isn't relevant or usuable. (When student's ask me why
> they need to take math, I like to tell them that I wish I could say that
> it is totally irrelevant and unusable.) Do English teachers choose the
> literture that liberal arts students must take, do they worry about relevance
> or usability? Is there any value in teaching mathematics that is
> intellectually interesting or beautiful or fun?
>
>
> Martin Kalmar
> Frederick Community College
> Frederick, Md
>
> martin_kalmar@co.frederick.md.us
>
> ****************************************************************************
> * 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/ *
> ****************************************************************************
>

****************************************************************************
* 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/ *
****************************************************************************