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The Mathematics of Card Playing in an Aboriginal Community

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2015

Neil Holm  and
Lionel Japanangka
Neil Holm
Affiliation:
Darwin Community College
Lionel Japanangka
Affiliation:
Hooker Creek School, Hooker Creek, N.T.
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Extract

The teaching of mathematics to Aboriginal children poses many difficulties for teachers. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal teachers agree that many Aboriginal children are not making adequate progress in their development of mathematical understanding. The teaching of mathematics in Aboriginal communities is discussed in the Northern Territory Infants Curriculum (1974 : 119–123). After reviewing the outcomes of a desirable mathematics course the curriculum writers conclude that “many Aboriginal children do not manifest many of these outcomes at a level comparable with that obtained by European children”.

John Gay and Michael Cole have written a very valuable book, The New Mathematics and an Old Culture, which examines the teaching of mathematics in a cross-cultural situation. They state that

“... in order to teach mathematics effectively, we must know more about our students. In particular we must know more about the indigenous mathematics so that we can build effective bridges to the new mathematics we are trying to introduce.” (Gay and Cole, 1967:1)

Type
Across Australia …… From Teacher to Teacher
Information
The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education , Volume 4 , Issue 5 , October 1976 , pp. 19 - 22
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1976

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References

Gay, J. and Cole, M.: The New Mathematics and an Old Culture, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York, 1967.Google Scholar
Infants Curriculum. Darwin, Department of Education, 1974Google Scholar
Williams, D.: At home, at school, at play. Special Schools Bulletin, 1972, 9, (3), 2–7.Google Scholar