Bent Christiansen and The Classroom

Today is the birthday of Bent Christiansen born 1921 in Aalborg, Denmark.  Christiansen was a teacher of mathematics and a teacher of teachers in Denmark.  In December 1969 he addressed the First International Congress on Mathematical Education in Lyons, France. Here is part of the introduction to his address:

"It is my belief that the very necessary changes in the millions of class-rooms with regard to the approach to mathematical education will not take place unless we explain ourselves at many levels of language. At one level we will have to convince the students at universities and training colleges of the necessity of using new means. At other levels of communication, we will have to motivate for debate the participants in the in-service training, the students in the schools and certainly also the parents and the authorities. While the research increases with regard to mathematical teaching, thereby providing sharper and stronger answers to important educational problems, it is thus in my opinion - for implementation purposes - still necessary to discuss in a general way the philosophy of mathematical education."

The instruction that happens in the classroom is the focal point of the school.  The connection between the teacher and the student can transcend time and space.  There are moments that connection is so strong that I am oblivious to the rest of the world.  I am literally high.  Those moments are my drug of choice.

I do believe that there are necessary changes that need to occur in the classroom.  Students need to be engaged and as instructors we have the tools to engage them in and out of the classroom.  The engagement needs to be personal.  The engagement needs to be challenging.  A positive component about MCA and AP testing is that there is a line drawn into the sand for both student and teacher to cross.  That crossing requires focus and effort by student and teacher.

I am frustrated that a call for change was announced in 1969 and now the year is 2013, a span of 44 years.  I am completing year 33.  Time is becoming short.  In every grade level, there is a large group of students that needs a new type of teacher.  Those students are bored.  They need to realize the opportunities that available to them.  I teach students in a college that have come to that realization, however, math is a struggle for them because their weak background.