Welcome to the timeline of mathematics education. The timeline shows events in mathematics education in England and the USA to allow easy comparisons of what has happened over time in the two countries. They will be useful if you are conducting research, teaching or if you are simply interested in mathematics education.
In New and Complete System of Arithmetic – Composed for the Use of the Citizens of the United States, Nicolas Pike provides a scripted set of teaching protocols: first, state the arithmetic rule, then exemplify the rule, before finally encouraging students to complete a set of practice exercises.
Warren Colburn’s First Lessons in Arithmetic – was one of the first attempts to change the teaching approach from the traditionalist to more progressive (“new mathematics”), encouraging pupils to discover rules themselves.
The Southern and Western Calculator (Bridge) declares that rules are needed, and pupils cannot invent them.
The Common School Arithmetic (Bates Botham) emphasises direct instruction, memorisation, and skill practice. Other publications at the time strengthened this popular perception.
The Activity Movement (drawing on the writings of Kilpatrick) encourages integration of subjects in elementary schools and argues against separate instruction in mathematics and other subjects.
Societal hope in progress through scientific method applied to classrooms through streamlining mathematics education.
The Newcastle committee was asked to investigate how to extend cheap elementary education to all children. The report states that a significant number of children weren’t in school at all, many other children attended for fewer than 100 days per year and that those attending did not achieve a high level of education.
The government implemented a new code where schools were paid by results. They got a grant for each child attending regularly who could pass an exam in reading, writing and arithmetic.
The first national curriculum was introduced. It listed the knowledge children should display at three stages of education: standard 1 (aged 7-8), standard 2 (aged 8-10) and standard 3 (aged 10+). It contained content similar to the modern curriculum, such as adding and subtracting figures up to 10 at standard 1.
The Elementary Education Act guaranteed all children to receive an education between the ages of 5 and 13.
