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THE ARITHMETIC OF THE MEDIEVAL UNIVERSITIES - Response

 

"The Greeks were concerned with the education of free men as future citizens." This quote is interesting in the way that it shows the way Greece valued education, but also how it was only available to men and to citizens. Because ancient Greece has been so influential in western culture, those inequities continued to perpetuated even in recent times and still continue to today. We need to be asking ourselves how we can decouple our education system from socio-economic statuses. 

"Towards the end of this period, the Hindu-Arabic number system was be ginning to be known in Europe." This quote reminds me of how much math migrated into Europe from places other than Ancient Greece. Because I was taught such a Eurocentric and Greekcentric mathematics history, I never learned how so many ideas from India, China and the Arabic world flowed into Europe and lead to so many European mathematics ideas.

"The student had simply to swear that he had read the books prescribed and attended the lectures." This quote struck me as interesting because it's such a fascinating way to conduct an education system. I think it's important for us as teachers to remember that the system we will work within is in fact a system that has been created by us. It is not eternal, and is not even necessarily the best way to "do" education. We should always be asking ourselves: Why are we doing things the way we are? Is there a better way to do it?

Comments

  1. Amanda FritzlanDecember 19, 2022 at 5:00 PM

    It is difficult to gain perspective on the systems that we are raised with, taught with, and that reflect many of the values that fuel our economies. Perhaps even looking at other systems of social inequity, and oppression, can remind us to look at ourselves more. I appreciate your reflections on remembering that education systems are also created by us, especially as educators.

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