Sir, – Peadar Grant (August 17th) criticises Project Maths for excluding topics that had been covered in the old syllabus. To do so is to miss the point of this new approach to mathematics.
Project Maths represents a change in how we teach and learn – this has consequences on what topics are covered. The previous syllabus’s reliance on rote learning allowed more topics to be covered. It also saw students gaining A1 grades in mathematics who, when entering university, showed very poor aptitude for using maths as a tool.
Imagine thinking that all forms of literature needed to covered in the English syllabus, at the expense of crushing lateral and creative thought, for a student to be deemed able in that subject.
We live in a society where people see maths as ugly, abstract, and not for them. Given time, Project Maths will help to change that perception. – Yours, etc,
Prof SHANE BERGIN,
School of Physics and
CRANN,
Trinity College Dublin,
Dublin 2.