A History of the 'New Mathematics' Movement and its Relationship with Current Mathematical Reform

A History of the "New Mathematics" Movement and its Relationship with Current Mathematical Reform provides a history of the "new mathematics" movement of the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s in the United States and relates it to current mathematics curricular reform. The history of the "new math" education movement is explained in terms of the general curriculum in schools, the mathematics curriculum, the teaching standards, and the pedagogical techniques used. A complete analysis of the history of the "new math" movement was accomplished by separately investigating major and minor "new math" projects. In conjunction, the aftermath of the "new math" movement is explained providing suggestions as to why this movement is often seen as having failed. A short history of reform from the 1970s to the present is provided. Finally, the book compares the "new mathematics" movement with the current mathematics reform movement led by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Angela Lynn Evans Walmsley is Assistant Professor in the Department of Research Methodology at Saint Louis University. Previously, she was a middle school and high school mathematics teacher. She holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics, a master's degree in mathematics education, and a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction. Her interests include mathematics education, pre-service teacher education, and educational research.