wbpesch@ihuxp.UUCP (Walt Pesch) (04/14/84)
An example is the reason behind the almost universally prevalent
requisite of the one year of geometry. Though vary few of us ever use
it, it has all taught us the basis of mathematical logic. It is for
this vary reason that many schools right now have been replacing the
standard year of geometry with computer science programs teaching the
kids programming.
Still waiting for the bolt from the skies,
Walt Pesch
AT&T Technologies
ihnp4!ihuxp!wbpeschmauney@ncsu.UUCP (Jon Mauney) (04/16/84)
> An example is the reason behind the almost universally prevalent > requisite of the one year of geometry. Though vary few of us ever use > it, it has all taught us the basis of mathematical logic. It is for > this vary reason that many schools right now have been replacing the > standard year of geometry with computer science programs teaching the > kids programming. I don't want to start a debate over math education, but I must protest this maligning of geometry! Many's the time I have wondered over some minor problem until I realize that I learned the answer in tenth grade. And I must say that the Euclidean model is an excellent approximation of the real world for my purposes. Take a poll of the readers of net.rec.build-things-with-your-hands and see how many use geometry. Why, just yesterday I was walking down one of the hallowed halls here and overheard two students discussing a problem in computer graphics; one was explaining to the other, with a slight touch of wonder in his voice, "and apparently, if you know two angles and one of the sides, that completely determines the rest of the triangle!" Now, ask me how often I use my knowledge of differential calculus. -- _Doctor_ Jon Mauney, mcnc!ncsu!mauney \__Mu__/ North Carolina State University