Abstract
M.Ed. (Media Studies)
The subject mathematics is for one reason or another regarded
as a necessary prerequisite for various job directions by many
countries (Del;we, 1988:1). This subject is also valuable as
preparation for the contingency that the child in future may
take up an occupation requiring knowledge of the subject in
question (Young, 1927:14). What matters most is that·a large
number of pupils fail mathematics every year in their
examination in primary and secondary schools. This is a clear
indication that there are problems in the teaching and
learning of mathematics which need special attention.
Mathematics is a sequential learning subject (Larcombe,
1985:12). By this is meant that new learning content cannot be
grasped unless there is insight into and understanding of the
previous learning content. This is true because the growth of
mathematical understanding develops step by· step with each
forward move depending upon the consolidation of previous
experience. In the light of the evidence that primary school
children are in the concrete reasoning state, most mathematics
educators believe that it is desirable to use large amounts of
manipulative materials with young children.
The understanding of the nature of mathematics is more
important in teaching, as the teaching of the subject is
influenced and determined by the teacher's understanding of
the nature of the subject. The theory, most prevalent among
teachers is that mathematics affords the best training for the
reasoning powers, and this is its traditional form (Young,
1927:15).