Course-5 Understanding Disciplines and School Subjects pmd

2.5. 2. Introduction
All of us agree with the fact that mathematics is considered as one of the most impor-
tant and essential school subjects. Throughout the centuries, mathematics has been
recognised as one of the central strands of human intellectual activity. From the very begin-
ning, mathematics has been a living and growing intellectual pursuit. It has its roots in
everyday activities and forms the basic structure of our highly advanced technological
developments. It comprises intricate and delicate structures which have a strong aesthetic
appeal. It also offers opportunities for opening the mind to new lines of creative ideas and
challenging thought. Undoubtedly, the mechanism of resolving an intractable problem of-
fers the most intense of all intellectual pleasures. At the same time, it is reputed to be, and
rightly so, the most hypothetical of all sciences. Mathematics is also considered as the
mother of all sciences. It exhibits connections between things which can be visualized only
through the agency of human reason.
The word "mathematics" has been used in two distinct and different senses, i.e., one
as a method used to solve the problems of quantity, space, order, etc., and the second as a
set of laws or generalizations of truths that are discovered. Most teachers think of it as a
tool in science, commerce and industry and are not able to appreciate its nature as a way to
think and what connects its various branches into a single logical framework of proof
structure. Many questions which usually arise in the minds of teachers need to be resolved.
What are the aims and purposes of teaching mathematics? What are the new methods and
new ways of thinking about mathematics? This unit gives an exposure to teachers the
importance of teaching Mathematics as one of the school subjects.
2.5.3. Learning Points and Learning Activities
2.5.3.1. Need and Importance of Mathematics in Curriculum
Mathematics curriculum is the “plan for the experiences that learners will encounter,
as well as the actual experiences they do encounter, that are designed to help them reach
specified mathematics objectives”
Need and importance of mathematics in school curriculum
Why do we need to know Mathematics? Why should we memorise so many formu-
lae, theorems, proofs, etc? How will this information help us in our later life? What is its
importance in my life? These are some of the common questions that we can see among
those who are not interested in learning Mathematics. How far, as teachers we are able to
convince our students to appreciate the importance of Mathematics?
'Why should we learn Mathematics?', is a valid question, and as Mathematics teach-
ers, it is our responsibility to understand and conceptualise its importance and unique place
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among other school subjects. Why do our curriculum designers place Mathematics as a
core school subject, and what is the significance of Mathematics in the overall school
curriculum?
The following values justify importance of Mathematics Curriculum.