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Journals for teachers of mathematics
The Netherlands, 1754 – 1921
Jenneke KrügerFIsme
University of Utrecht
ICHME4, Turin23-26 September 2015
• Teacher of mathematics• Mathematics teachers• Journals for both• Professional associations
Teachers of mathematics
• >1570 migration of teachers of mathematics from the South to the North of the Netherlands (Van Maanen & Vanpaemel)
• Primary schools: teaching of arithmetic more expensive (17th century)
18th century• Arithmetic in more primary schools (Dutch
schools• Candidates for teaching: comparative exams,
including arithmetic, mathematics• Teaching of mathematical sciences in small
private schools (French schools)
Professional mathematics teachers
John (2008):
• Mathematical and teaching competency: empirical techniques and theoretical knowledge
• Requiring lengthy periods of mathematical education and training
• Motivation to promote the educational success of the student
• Long-term commitment to teaching of mathematics
• Continuous upgrading of relevant skills• High degree of autonomy
Professional mathematics teachers
Examples from 17th, 18th centuryNetherlands (Krüger, 2014)
Frans van Schooten Sr. (1581 – 1645) Leiden Engineering SchoolLaurens Praalder (1711 – 1793) Foundation of Renswoude UtrechtFrance, (Confalonieri, 2015)
Pierre Varignon (1654-1722) Collège Mazarin, ParisDominique-Francois Rivard (1697-1778) Collège Beauvais, ParisOther countries?
Communication and journalsProfessionals + communication Group of professionals
periodicals 18th century: learned societies, recreational mathematics, articles on mathematics in general periodicals
Furinghetti (2015):professional journals professional associationsDispersal of ideas and information
1754 Mathematische liefhebberye, journal for teachers1. Monthly news for teachers of Dutch and French schools2. Monthly section on arithmetic and algebra
Mathematische liefhebberye‘Mathematical pastimes’
From the first issue
“To all schoolmasters and lovers of arithmetic in the Netherlands.This concerns a monthly edition of the News of French and Dutch Schools, to which the publisher adds some pages concerning arithmetic and algebra, as these subjects are of importance to the teachers in those schools.”
Content
News: vacancies, examination procedures, insurance for widows of teachers, lists of hymns for each Sunday and lists of school teachers in certain areas.Mathematics: arithmetic and algebra, both also applied to geometrical problems.
Some theory, with examples, problems to solve, solutions of problems from some months before, the exam questions of the teacher examinations and once a year the solutions of exam questions.
Content, example
33. A grain measurer orders a new measuring vessel and wants to have it made with the least amount of wood possible, Which ratio should be the height against the width?
Solution (transcribed)
Let the volume be a. The proportion of diameter and circumference equals 1 to pLet the radius be x and the height yThen 1:p :: 2x:2px is the circumferenceThe area of the bottom = pxxThe volume = pyxx=aThe lateral surface equals 2pxyThe total area = 2pxy+pxx which should be a minimumUse of fluxion, Newtonian notation
Conclusions 1• Mathematische Liefhebberye was published monthly from
April 1754 until December 1769.• There were many collaborators, both for the News for
teachers in Dutch and French schools as for the mathematics.
• The mathematical content catered for general teachers in primary education and for specialized mathematics teachers.
• It provided an opportunity for exchange of information on vacancies, job requirements and mathematics. It also provided opportunity to improve mathematical knowledge through discussion on mathematics, with references to authors.
• The journal was appreciated, but probably not economically profitable.
1770 - 1900• A.B. Strabbe, mathematics teacher and translator: Oeffenschool der Mathematische Wetenschappen (‘Training School of Mathematical Sciences’), 1770-1771• 1778 establishment of Mathematical Society by Strabbe,
another mathematics teacher, a surveyor and a reckonmaster. At least two of them had been very active in Mathematische Liefhebberye; in 1782 first mathematical journal, continuation until today (NAW)
1863• National system for secondary education, highly qualified
mathematics teachers at the HBS • Some regional journals, short-lived• A national journal for those who studied for mathematics
qualifying exams
Wiskundig tijdschrift‘Mathematical journal’
• Established in 1904 by three mathematics teachers at a HBS (Rotterdam and The Hague)
• Meant for all mathematicians, with an emphasis on mathematics teachers
• Aim: to connect all mathematicians and to bring more cohesion in teaching; inexperienced teachers could profit from knowledge of the experienced teachers
• Existed until 1921
Subscriptions in 1906
Teacher HBS, gymnasium or school for girls 137
Teacher at university, technical institutes, military institutes
59
Primary school or primary teacher education 26
Booksellers 103
Unknown 80
Student, press, library 11
Others 33
Content
• Mathematics and some pedagogy; no items on vacancies or anything else in connection with the profession
• Theory and problems to solve. Examination questions: teaching degree in mathematics (upper primary school, lower secondary and higher secondary school), surveyors, school for civil engineers, HBS final exams, admission exams for the veterinary school, exams for engineer of steam engines and for water management.
Topics 1904-1906 Dutch author Non-Dutch author
Arithmetic 5 4
Algebra, elementary 11 2
Algebra, higher 5 -
Trigonometry 10 -
Plane geometry 11 40
Plane curves 7 12
(Descriptive) geometry 7 7
Curves 3d 5 3
Mechanics 7 4
Physics 3 -
Pedagogy 3 10
Others, reviews 6 19
Total 80 101
Professional associations of mathematics teachers
• 1867 Association of Teachers in Secondary Education (mainly HBS), established by three directors of a HBS, for all teachers, including mathematics
• 1921 Association of teachers of mathematics and of science at gymnasia: Liwenagel
• 1925 Association of teachers of mathematics, of mechanics and of cosmography at the HBS: Wimecos
• 1913 – 1988 Nieuw Tijdschrift voor wiskunde (‘New journal for mathematics’), preparation for teachers exams (editor P. Wijdenes)
• 1924 Bijvoegsel van het nieuw tijdschrift voor wiskunde (‘Addendum of the new journal for mathematics’), with an essay by E.J. Dijksterhuis, opposing the ideas of mrs. T. Ehrenfest
Professional associations of mathematics teachers
• 1928 the Addendum became Euclides (P. Wijdenes, owner publisher Noordhoff)
• 1940 Euclides became the official journal of Wimecos & Liwenagel, At present one association for teachers of mathematics in secondary education,the Nederlandse Vereniging van Wiskundeleraren (NVvW)
Conclusion 2• Professional journals for mathematics teachers existed
before there was a national education structure and before there were national qualifications for mathematics teachers
• Professional associations (Wimecos and Liwenagel) and a professional journal for mathematics teachers (Euclides) existed at the same time, without a close connection between them
• It took 15 years before Euclides became the official journal of the professional association
• The connection to a professional association has survival value for a professional journal
