Scanning and Scoping of Values and Valuing in Mathematics Education

Abstract

Although the ideas of values and valuing have been totemic notions in education for forever, when applied to mathematics they become quite problematic. Even today for many mathematic teachers and learners, mathematics is a value-free space. For them, school mathematics is learning the skills of manipulating numbers before moving to the more abstract ideas of algebra, and occasionally delving into geometry and measurement ideas. Likewise teaching mathematics in schools is ensuring students get good marks on the tests and examinations using whatever pedagogical techniques ensure this. Although in schools this is still the prevailing attitude to mathematics, nevertheless for some decades there ..