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Going back or going forward? Tensions in the formulation of a new National Curriculum in mathematics
Author(s) -
Brown Margaret
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the curriculum journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.843
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1469-3704
pISSN - 0958-5176
DOI - 10.1080/09585176.2011.574882
Subject(s) - curriculum , mathematics education , reform mathematics , mathematics curriculum , national curriculum , government (linguistics) , relation (database) , sociology , connected mathematics , pedagogy , mathematics , teaching method , computer science , philosophy , linguistics , database , technology integration
Inferences from recent international comparative data on mathematical attainment, frequently quoted as justification for curriculum change, are critically examined, and the implications are contrasted with expressed curricular aims. Using characterisations by Ball (1990) and Ernest (1991), positions of key actors are analysed in relation to priorities given to different aspects of the mathematics curriculum, in particular facts and skills, cultural heritage, functionality and curricular structure. These are compared with characterisations made in the late 1980s, and in the early years of the New Labour government. This analysis highlights tensions that are likely to arise in the design of a new curriculum in mathematics.