I agree with Lockhart that once a subject is made mandatory, extinguishes the curiosity and joy for that subject in most students. Reading is an example of this. Just in this past week, I had two group discussions about reading for fun. School was the main factor affecting our attitudes towards reading. It was mandatory, we didn't get to choose the book, and it was not fun. Over time, most people mentioned it's difficult for them to read because they want to.
I somewhat disagree with Lockhart's point about mathematics being an art, like music and painting. Math, music, and painting can all teach us to think creatively and abstractly. However, unlike music or painting, math explicitly teaches skills we can use to solve real life problems. Math demands somewhat more structure than some other forms of art. What one learns from math is directly applicable to the world around us and can be related to most subjects, especially the sciences.
No comments:
Post a Comment