GARDEN ROUTE |KAROO NEWS - A book on mathematics and lateral thinking, written by a founder teacher of York High School, is currently circulating in high schools all over the country.
"I have always advocated seeking the meaning behind mathematics - hence the title Give Meaning to Maths," says author Peter Bishop.
Bishop taught maths, science, cricket and hockey at York High from 1975 until 1982, when he moved to Fairmont in Durbanville.
He taught mathematics at Oakhill in Knysna from 1994 to 2011, coached cricket and hockey and administered the SWD Boys Hockey for eight years.
More recently, Bishop was invited to give weekly presentations on lateral thinking at Cedar College in Kenilworth and had prepared a year's work when the Covid pandemic struck.
"So I got down to typing 429 pages, with 150 topics at high school level, with 1 000 coloured pictures and graphics," he says.
"The first print was sold by word of mouth, and orders are coming in from schools throughout Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal - with a number of books being used by the York teachers - through the initiative of Gill Dugmore, wife of York's first headmaster Ron, with whom I have stayed in contact."
Lateral thinking
"With Covid, schools are under pressure not just to handle the knowledge and routine demands, but also the problem-solving and perceptive based 'questions' that ensure the A-symbols sought by tertiary institutes," says Bishop.
"Many private schools tutor advanced mathematics to brighter prospects, who thus get exposed to university work at school. Laudable as this might seem, it propagates vertical and not lateral thinking."
Bishop says his book allows for lateral thinking, ensuring that the candidate is able to evaluate, to perceive, to think for him/herself and is thus able to be well educated at tertiary levels and beyond.
"The book gives exposure to the contributions of the great mathematicians of the past, and the issues and topics that have been dealt with by different cultures create curiosity and appreciation, and the desire to challenge the world of tomorrow."
Fantastic resource
CEO of Jet Education Services Dr James Keevy found the book "very comprehensive and a fantastic resource for a teacher cum subject specialist".
Leading educationalist Mark Phillips of Mindbourne Mathematics wrote, "This world-class book is a must for every high school student... that will not only inculcate a love for mathematics in the students, but will develop in them the critical problem-solving skills that are essential to human behaviour in the 21st century."
Send all enquiries to peterhbishop@gmail.com.
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