This view of curriculum runs far less risk of becoming obsolete before it is even
implemented. Difference equations may fall out of fashion,but the algorithmic
thinking behind their study certainly won’t. Even if the language of linear algebra
becomes less useful in the next century than it is now,the habit of using geometric
language to describe algebraic phenomena (and vice-versa) will be a big idea
decades from now. At the turn of the 20th century,the ideas and thought experiments
behind number theory (the decomposition of ideals into prime factors in
number fields,for example) was smiled upon as the pastime of a dedicated collection
of intellectuals looking for the elusive solution to the Fermat conjecture; at the
turn of the 21st century,even after it appears that Fermat is settled,these same
habits of mind that led to class field theory are at the forefront of applied research
in cryptography.
This approach to curriculum extends beyond mathematics,and reflection shows
that certain general habits of mind cut across every discipline. There are also more
mathematical habits,and finally,there are ways of thinking that are typical of
specific content areas (algebra or topology,for example).
In the next sections,we describe the habits of mind we’d like students to develop.
In high school,we’d like students to acquire
• some useful general habits of mind,and
• some mathematical approaches that have shown themselves worthwhile over
the years.
These are general approaches. In addition,there are content-specific habits that
high school graduates should have. We’ve concentrated on two of the several possible
categories: