Mathematics, Mathematics Education, and Views of Reform: Perspectives from Two Mathematicians Involved with Mathematics Education for the Appalachian Collaborative Center for Learning, Assessment, and Instruction in Mathematics

This occcasional paper is a dialog in the form of two separate papers about mathematics education: "Reaching Out to Colleagues and the Public:" A University Mathematician Engages School Mathematics Reform by Reid Davis, and "A Response to 'Reaching Out to Colleagues and the Public'" by Jeff Connor. Their differing views are illustrative of the ongoing debate in mathematics education reform. The discussion centers around the National Council of Teacher of Mathematics (NCTM) "Principles and Standards for School Mathematics" (2000). Many of the differences of perspective are endemic to the operation of all Centers for Learning and Teaching commissioned by the National Science Foundation where mathematics is a concern. The reason for this tension is that the Foundation requires the collaboration of mathematicians and mathematics educators, and prominent representatives of the two groups often take differing positions on the desiderata of mathematics education.