Exactly- Why Study Math Reason 1
During my Principle Approach training, a debate about math ensued. Why require students to study higher mathematics if they will never use it? We finally agreed. It is a discipline that develops the mind.
Emily replied to that part of a comment I left at Principled Discovery,
That’s so spot on! I am frustrated with the ‘I’ll never use it in the real world’ argument. It just makes no sense…Our brain is a muscle that needs to be exercised and learning is the way to do it.
I appreciate her enthusiasm. When it is time to practice math facts with my son, my excitement wanes. Cards games and manipulatives help, but I already know the multiplication tables. To combat my grumbling, I return to my educational philosophy. Knowing why arithmetic is valuable inspires me.
A stated goal for the study of arithmetic is to “train the reasoning abilities.” Benjamin Greenleaf, 1862, is quoted in A Guide to American Christian Education for the Home and School,
‘One of the principal benefits of the study of mathematics is to teach the learner how to reason with elegance and exactness.’
Reasoning from one point to another. Seeing the rational answer. Working through mistakes. These are merits my children receive through the concrete ideas of arithmetic. They learn a much needed life skill: logical thinking. That is worth the effort.
Why Study Math: Reason 2, Reason 3, Reason 4
Thank you! You are so right. There is such a move in home education right now to simply keep to the subjects that are in your child’s bent. Why teach higher math if they will be a writer? Why teach chemistry if they are planning to be a mechanic?
The point is NOT knowledge. The point is to learn about God through His creation and through the subjects. That’s what I LOVE about BPA. The focus is on learning about God and the knowledge is secondary. And also I love that excellence is okay. I keep fighting that but it’s true. There’s no harm in learning a broad variety of subjects.
That quote from GACE is true. Math helps you in all other subjects when you study it as a discipline and not simply as fact mastery. All subjects, when viewed in a BPA light, will make you a better learner, a better Christian and a better citizen.
I appreciate what you said, Anna. If we’re studying subjects to know God more (knowledge of Him) it seems like the byproduct will be excellence.
This was very helpful. I am homeschooling my four and two year olds and we are just beginning very basic math with my son (four). Math is not my thing and I find that already I get easily bored with the very basic kindergarten level math we’re doing. This post inspired me as to the importance of it!
Anna-Marie,
Your enthusiasm is so encouraging! You started to steal my future posts with your comment. It is a great preview of what is to come. :)
There has to be a balance between the student and the subject, so even if my son wants to write songs he still needs to learn math. If the subject is put aside because of a child’s “bent,” he may not develop to his fullest potential. Granted, every child may not become a math genius, but he can work at it according to his level of gifting. And, of course, the aspect of learning about the nature and character of God is most important. But that is for another post. :)
Rain,
I am thankful you were encouraged. It is a blessing to have to opportunity to lay foundations in our children’s lives.
I must admit, I never worked on formal math lessons when my son was a toddler and am not currently doing so with my little girls. The little ones are learning to count and sort things, but we don’t have math “lessons” until after they learn some phonics. My son was age 5 going on 6. My girls may start a bit younger.
[...] most immediately comfortable or gratifying. Renae reflects on the need for discipline in Exactly, Reason 1 of Why Study Math, posted at Life Nurturing [...]
I can remember sitting through geometry class doing proofs, and I swear that I could actually feel my brain developing new convolutions. Or maybe it was just a killer headache. Or both!
Either way, it was the first time in my life I had ever been required to think in a clearly focused, logical manner. Even though I was generally mathphobic and I chose a career in which I use no math more complex than percentages, I’m not sorry for those proofs. Not in the slightest.
Adso,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I experienced a similar reaction to math, but it wasn’t until I got to take College Algebra. Talk about headaches! :)
Seriously, the problem I had in College Algebra was that I needed more than memorized formulas. My friend helped me so much by working the proofs out for me. She showed me why they worked and that made all the difference.
[...] from A Guide to American Christian Education? It has been next to my computer for weeks as I ponder principles of mathematics. Art is still more enjoyable for me than arithmetic, but my passion for the “language of [...]