(no subject)
May. 17th, 2010 04:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hnpccI'm generally all for programs that improve maths ability in primary and secondary school, especially given Australia's current decline in these areas. And this program does sound like it's good - encouraging primary school kids into enjoying and learning mathematical concepts. Not necessarily in that exact order.
And yet I found myself reading:
Mr Hanson and another teacher, Shane Ezard, were this year hand-picked to take part in an innovative education department program — the Primary Maths Specialist Trial Project — that aims to help build maths confidence in teachers and students. About 80 teachers from 27 Victorian schools are involved.
and wondering why both the selected teachers named were male. I mean, there aren't that many men teaching at primary school level any more. So it does seem kind of odd that in a heavily female-dominated profession the two selected teachers to go and learn how to teach maths confidently were both male. Nothing against either Mr Hanson or Mr Ezard - I'm sure they're both fantastic teachers, and seriously good luck to them (again, I'm all in favour of maths being fun! And of having men teach at all levels, including primary school incidentally) - but I'm kind of wondering how many of the 80 teachers were female and why none of the female teachers from Corio either volunteered or were selected to go.
I really hope that in the next round at least one woman puts her hand up to make maths fun, even if she herself was intimidated by it at school. Because mathematical ability is not gender-based, but you can certainly socialise people - even unconsciously - to believe that it is. And once you've done that you find an awful lot of girls closing off career options for themselves without even realising they've done it.
Edit: OK I missed the final paragraph:
Back at Corio South, assistant principal Amanda Hay says she has noticed the confidence of teachers grow as they embrace the maths message from Mr Hanson and Mr Ezard: "
"The work Andy and Shane are doing is helping teachers continue their own learning. Our teachers are lifelong learners, and you can't be a good teacher and help children to learn if you are not a learner yourself."
Which is great, but still makes me wonder where all the women were not going on the course in the first place. Still. More maths, more fun, good overall.
Also:
Adding to the angst is the prediction that demand for mathematics and statistics graduates is expected to grow in Australia by 3.5 per cent a year until 2013.
Hm. I have a first year pass in maths and a grad dip in Biostatistics. Probably not really enough to let me change fields, no. Heh. Presumably in 2013 there will be enough people and a sudden glut on the market or something. Like in biomedical diagnostic labs in the early 1990s.
And yet I found myself reading:
Mr Hanson and another teacher, Shane Ezard, were this year hand-picked to take part in an innovative education department program — the Primary Maths Specialist Trial Project — that aims to help build maths confidence in teachers and students. About 80 teachers from 27 Victorian schools are involved.
and wondering why both the selected teachers named were male. I mean, there aren't that many men teaching at primary school level any more. So it does seem kind of odd that in a heavily female-dominated profession the two selected teachers to go and learn how to teach maths confidently were both male. Nothing against either Mr Hanson or Mr Ezard - I'm sure they're both fantastic teachers, and seriously good luck to them (again, I'm all in favour of maths being fun! And of having men teach at all levels, including primary school incidentally) - but I'm kind of wondering how many of the 80 teachers were female and why none of the female teachers from Corio either volunteered or were selected to go.
I really hope that in the next round at least one woman puts her hand up to make maths fun, even if she herself was intimidated by it at school. Because mathematical ability is not gender-based, but you can certainly socialise people - even unconsciously - to believe that it is. And once you've done that you find an awful lot of girls closing off career options for themselves without even realising they've done it.
Edit: OK I missed the final paragraph:
Back at Corio South, assistant principal Amanda Hay says she has noticed the confidence of teachers grow as they embrace the maths message from Mr Hanson and Mr Ezard: "
"The work Andy and Shane are doing is helping teachers continue their own learning. Our teachers are lifelong learners, and you can't be a good teacher and help children to learn if you are not a learner yourself."
Which is great, but still makes me wonder where all the women were not going on the course in the first place. Still. More maths, more fun, good overall.
Also:
Adding to the angst is the prediction that demand for mathematics and statistics graduates is expected to grow in Australia by 3.5 per cent a year until 2013.
Hm. I have a first year pass in maths and a grad dip in Biostatistics. Probably not really enough to let me change fields, no. Heh. Presumably in 2013 there will be enough people and a sudden glut on the market or something. Like in biomedical diagnostic labs in the early 1990s.
