In a post of June 21 (I guess 1 + 1 no longer equals 2) I commented on a textbook entitled "Rethinking Mathematics" which advances the cause of ethnomathematics, a theory of teaching math that posits the idea that math is not a universal language but is a function of one's culture. Chapter titles seemed to be from a social science rather than math textbook, e.g., Chicanos have math in their blood.
Here's a quote from the authors of the textbook: "Shouldn't educators suggest that math can help solve poverty, the AIDS crisis, global warming, overreliance on fossil fuels, and so many other vexing problems?" You can substitute virtually any study - English, science, history - in that sentence and it would still be stupidity.
We need a solid education in many things if education is to help people solve the problems listed as well as the basic problem of man living with the other inhabitants of this universe.
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