[Aztlan] Aztlan Digest, Vol 51, Issue 1

[Bernard Ortiz de Montellano]

Of course, why would one not expect idiocy from Michelle Malkin?
Actually, Maya Math has much to recommend it. Many years ago Dr. George
Sanchez, Professor of Education at the University of Texas, wrote a short
book on Maya Mathematics and their use in teaching. When I organized
workshops for SACNAS (Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native
Ameericans in Science) on "culturally relevant" science we had some on  the
use of Maya math. Education theorists have shown that children learn
arithmetic more easily if they can manipulate things. Maya numerals ( dot,
bar, zero) are much easier to deal with than arabic numerals. IT is
infinitely easier to teach borrowing and carrying in addition and
subtraction  when doing Maya math. Once learned,  the concept can be
extended to arabic numerals. Place notation is also easier to explain if one
can compare our system and the Maya. Finally, one can even talk about
computers having "two fingers" after talking about the Maya using all the
fingers and toes.
Bernard Ortiz de Montellano


> Message: 2
> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 12:48:14 -0600
> From: Sid Hollander <sid.hollander at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Aztlan] [Maya Math] in public school
> To: AZATLAN <aztlan at lists.famsi.org>
> Message-ID:
>        <5a64c8ee1001311048p32baf6cdg6a98bdf49c6e8c6a at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
>
> Let the games begin!  I had just started my mathematics career in the era
> of
> sputnik when the new math came on the scene to battle the  those nasty
> Rouskis who beaten us to space. Ah! SMSG was the answer.  As a math major I
> loved the subject but the parental out cry was enormous.  I sympathize with
> Jody the teacher and the reactions of the parents.  The posting by Hubert
> made me seek out more info on the subject. (let it be know that I adore
> Maya
> Math).  I found
>
> http://michellemalkin.com/2010/01/25/stupid-education-fad-of-the-day-mayan-math/
> where the header was:
> Stupid education fad of the day: ?Mayan Math?
> By Michelle Malkin
>
> Longtime readers of this blog are familiar with my critiques of Fuzzy Math,
> New Math, New New Math, Everyday Math, Chicago
> Math<http://michellemalkin.com/?s=everyday+math>,
> and every other social justice-tainted
> effort<
> http://michellemalkin.com/2009/12/11/hollywood-howard-zinn%E2%80%99s-marxist-education-project/
> >by
> educrats to corrupt and undermine rigorous math education in this
> country.
>
> Today?s stupid education fad of the day?
>
> ?Mayan Math.?<
> http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/jan/24/mayan-numbers-taught-in-somis-school-to-help/
> >I
> kid you not: ...snip ,
>
> An interesting read.  I also waded through the readers comments and
> suffered
> a post Sputnik <
> http://www.google.com.mx/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=fLf&ei=489lS_7qF4eXtgegs-m4Bg&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&ved=0CAYQBSgA&q=de+ja+vous&spell=1
> >de
> ja vous but was brought back to reality when I came upon this one-line
> readers comment:
>
> "I heard the Mayan math class will end in 2012"  I laughed and immediately
> wanted to share with the list.
> --
> Sid Hollander
> Merida, Yucatan
> Mexico CP 97310
> The book of nature is written in mathematical symbols?. Galileo
>
>
>