A Mathematics Work Room for the Senior High School

Abstract

In the field of mathematics, the advent of the war has not yet created many major changes. The most noticeable one is that more pupils are now enrolled in the mathematics courses than formerly. That the pupils are learning the subject better than in pre-war days is also quite apparent. I am not quite so certain that we are teaching it better. The war is the cause of the great increase in the enrollments, and the pupil's motive for studying mathematics is the most powerful in existence, that of retaining his life, and the life of freedom. If we do not recognize the strength of this force acting in our favor there is danger of our becoming apathetic. It behooves us to add vitality and meaning to the abstract theory that we teach. Unless we improve the quality of our work, and arouse the interest of the pupils in this field, we are going to experience a terrific jolt when the motive furnished by the war is gone.