Reform of Mathematical Teaching in Germany. (Continued.)

Extract

AT the beginning of this century we find that there was a lively movement on foot to insist on the application of mathematics to actual problems occurring in daily life—a reaction from that purely formal mathematical teaching which for half a century had treated the subject-matter as of secondary importance so long as the logical training was achieved. This reaction became apparent amongst schoolmasters, especially in the meetings of the Forderungsverein, and it was even asserted by the extremists that Mathematics was nothing more than the handmaid of Science.