26th February, 2008
Revelation- Why Study Math Reason 4
In past weeks, we discussed a few reasons to study math. If you remember, Reason, Dominion, and Justice are a few of the principles we can use to inspire our children. My hope is that by shining meaning and purpose on the subject the weighty work will be transformed into joy. This quote from Alfred Whitehead found in Mathematics, Is God Silent resonates;
There is a widely-spread sense of boredom with the very idea of learning. I attribute this to the fact that they [the students] have been taught too many things merely in the air…The whole apparatus of learning appears to them as nonsense.
Moonbeams by Jessie Wilcox Smith
Telling children they have to learn something to get a college degree, or a good job may motivate some, but the abstract noose of the future strips away meaning and leaves a dead shell. The study of mathematics is meant to be so much more. It is the study of life. It is the language of nature. Most importantly, it reveals the glory of the Creator.
Music. Shape. Form. Sequence. All the beauty of nature is written with mathematics from the symmetrical petals on the tiniest flower to the spiral galaxies in an unfathomable universe. The laws of nature are the fingerprints of a wise, faithful, infinite Creator who teaches us that 2 plus 2 always equals 4. The fundamentals of math do not change. They exist in the nature of an unchanging God.
True motivation and inspiration for mathematics lies in the observance of God’s created order…There is a treasure to be found in the mathematical structure of God’s creation. We only need to learn how to find it…Keep your eyes open for mathematical insights in newspapers and magazines. Get out into God’s creation and investigate. Take pictures and collect flowers, pine cones, shells… ibid. p. 109
I am ready to find the treasures. Will you join me?
For more insight into mathematical principles, consider these helpful books listed in my perceived order of importance:
- The Guide to American Christian Education by James Rose
- Mathematics, Is God Silent by James Nickel
- Encyclopedia of Bible Truths: Science/Mathematics by Ruth Haycock
- The Noah Plan Mathematics Curriculum Guide by By Arthur Paul Ricciardi
And visit these websites of moms who have done the research, too:
- Biblical Principles of Mathematics- Principled Mom
- Principled Math- Lifestyle Education through Discipleship
- How I’m Teaching Math- Loving Him 4 Ever
- Biblical Principles of Mathematics- The Principled Reformer
Previous posts in this series:
Posted at 12:22 am | Comments (6)
12th February, 2008
Justice- Why Study Math Reason 3
Without common and honest measures individuals can easily defraud one another. Leviticus 19:35-36 outlines God’s intention for trade relationships.
You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight, or volume. You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin.
No one wants to buy from a dishonest dealer, but how can you detect a swindler unless you understand the numbers? I think that is why Scripture admonishes repeatedly “not [to] pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow’s garment as a pledge.” The vulnerable in society need protection. It is criminal to cheat anyone, and seems especially heinous to steal from the weak.
More years ago than I want to mention, I sold ice cream. After making a milkshake for a mother and her young son, I asked the owner the price. He told me an amount I later realized was higher than listed. The lady spoke little English and the man purposely cheated her out of a few dollars. No amount of money is worth debauching your soul. Being a part of that transaction still grieves me. The lady was not valued for her individuality, her humanity; only for her money. This scenario is too common.
My children will face similar situations. Will they know if they are being cheated? Will they safeguard the defenseless through their honesty? Justice cries out for individuals who can be trusted. Every relationship depends on it. Math illuminates corruption, and my hope is to heed its warnings. In order to love wisely, my children must understand arithmetic.
- Reason 1- Exactly
- Reason 2- Dominion
- Reason 4- Revelation
Posted at 8:20 pm | Comments (5)
23rd January, 2008
Dominion- Why Study Math Reason 2
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines arithmetic:
The science of numbers, or the art of computation. The various operations of arithmetic are performed by addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
These operations are necessary to care for property. Every week, I gather payments from various labor, add them up, and write a bank deposit. Then I get the privilege of dividing the money between the bills. By the grace of God, I don’t usually deal with negative numbers, and because my husband and I have done the math, we know our limits and set our goals.
It is easy to see that finances deal with numbers, but math is important for more than balancing the checkbook. In A Guide to American Christian Education, James Kilkenny writes,
None of the vast varieties of the work of the world, either in planning, doing, or evaluating, could be done without arithmetic. It is an essential tool of dominion.
The very stuff of existence requires a knowledge of math. We need food, shelter, and clothing to survive. How can we get and keep those things without adding or subtracting, planning or evaluating? Our goals and dreams hinge upon the hard work of doing. Even the hours and minutes of life are counted “that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
Teaching our children arithmetic is imperative for without it they will be dependent upon someone to care for them and their property. However, equipping children with the “tool of dominion” grows good stewards prepared to live in freedom caring for the many blessings God bestows.
- Reason 1- Exactly
- Reason 3- Justice
- Reason 4- Revelation
Posted at 10:44 am | Comments (5)
6th January, 2008
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.
- Reason 2- Dominion
- Reason 3- Justice
- Reason 4- Revelation
Posted at 11:32 pm | Comments (6)
