Aboriginal Culture and Mathematics

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the issues surrounding the mathematics curriculum in Australian schools. According to this paper, the needs of the Aboriginal students differ from what the Westernized education system teaches. The Australian school system fails to integrate these two cultures.

From the Paper:

"For mathematics teachers working in Australia, few issues are as pressing as creating a useful curriculum that integrates the needs of Aboriginal students with the demands of a Westernized education system. Because of the sometimes-vast cultural differences that exist between Aboriginal groups, individuals, and cultures, Western education is often seen to "fail" these students, especially in mathematics. This is largely the result of the system's inability to account for the cultural differences that exist between these groups. After all, mathematics is a socially constructed discipline and should be considered within the confines of culture (Owens 2001, p. 166). While there may be some transcultural aspects to mathematics, to be truly effective mathematical pedagogy in Australia must consider the cultural differences that exist between Western schools and Aboriginal cultures."

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