The writer of this article correctly pins the blame on “progressive” theories that math isn’t about learning and applying formulas, but should instead be about “discovery” and that getting the right answer isn’t really important. What really matters is that the student use his thinking skills. You’ll get a laugh out of the math assignment the writer talks about — requiring the student to write about his “special number.” I’m sure that the students all get As on that assignment which is pleasant for them, but as far as learning mathematics, it’s just foolishness.
While I think this writer is overly dramatic about the supposed economic consequences of not having enough good mathematicians, he’s absolutely right in regarding this kind of “teaching” as just a big waste of time.
