For anyone interested in the history and effects of the introduction of
so-called "Modern Mathematics" (or "Mathématique Moderne," or "New
Mathematics," etc.) this book, by Dirk De Bock and Geert Vanpaemel, is
essential reading. The two authors are experienced and highly qualified
Belgian scholars and the book looks carefully at events relating to
school mathematics for the period from the end of World War II to 2010.
Initially the book focuses on events which helped to define the modern
mathematics revolution in Belgium before and during the 1960s. The book
does much more than that, however, for it traces the influence of these
events on national and international debates during the early phases of
the reform.
By providing readers with translations into English of relevant sections
of key Continental documents outlining the major ideas of leading
Continental scholars who contributed to the "Mathématique Moderne"
movement, this book makes available to a wide readership, the
theoretical, social, and political backdrops of Continental new
mathematics reforms. In particular, the book focuses on the
contributions made by Belgians such as Paul Libois, Willy Servais,
Frédérique Lenger, and Georges Papy.
The influence of modern mathematics fell away rapidly in the 1970s,
however, and the authors trace the rise and fall, from that time into
the 21st century, of a number of other approaches to school
mathematics--in Belgium, in other Western European nations, and in North
America.
In summary, this is an outstanding, landmark publication displaying the
fruits of deep scholarship and careful research based on extensive
analyses of primary sources.
