25 Years OnAuthor(s): Michael CorneliusSource: Mathematics in School, Vol. 25, No. 5, Mathematics and I.T. (Nov., 1996), p. 8Published by: The Mathematical AssociationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30215258 .

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25

YERRS by Michael Cornelius

Year 2021: A school staffroom. Professor Parabola is talking with Doctor Ellipse.

P: Did you hear about Bill?

E: No. What's happened?

P: He's gone. Fired!

E: I don't believe it. Why?

P: Well you know Module 67a in the International Curriculum, section 34b, paragraph 5c where you have to work out how many people you could get into 27 space craft if each carried two people.

E: Yes, of course.

P: Well, Bill asked his class to consider what would happen if each craft carried three people.

E: Gosh!

P: He was picked up straight away on the monitoring service. Departure from the International Curriculum. He had to go at once.

E: Amazing! I can't believe Bill would be so stupid.

P: That reminds me. I've just called up the 50th anniversary issue of Mathematics in School on my interweb. Have you seen it yet?

E: Can't say I have.

P: Some fascinating historical stuff in it. Do you know that when it started in 1971 there wasn't a fixed curriculum for all teachers and schools? And in 1996, after 25 years, there was only a National Curriculum. The European Curriculum came in in 2001 and the International one in 2006.

E: You don't say!

P: Apparently mathematics was done with pen and paper! In 1971 they used something called 'log tables' and even in 1996 they were still using machines where you had to press buttons!

E: That reminds me. You were going to tell me how many new interweb machines to order.

P: Yes. We want three sets of ten. How many is that?

E: Just a minute.

(Fumbles with small gadget attached to wrist and talks to it)

E: (to machine) Three times ten.

P: Right, so we need thirty.

E: Have you heard about the pupil in Joan's class?

P: No.

E: Apparently she can take any number up to 10 and multiply it by 2 in her head! And she is only 17.

P: Incredible. And they say standards are falling.

E: Well I hope I don't get her to teach next year. I couldn't cope.

P: Well I won't anyway.

E: Why's that?

P: Retiring this summer.

E: Really, you can't be old enough!

P: Afraid so. I'm 30 next April, Do you know, my grandfather, Mr Conic taught until he was 65?

E: Really? Funny hearing someone called 'Mr' nowadays.

P: Yes. I think it wasn't until after 2000 that all teachers were called 'Dr' and senior ones 'Professor'.

E: Well must get ready for my class again. What is it now: 11.23, time zone 1 (consults machine on wrist), we have to do module 76d, section 5f, paragraph 7g. I don't know how people managed before we had an International Curriculum. Just imagine, not only children in different countries doing different things but the same happening in just one country!

P: Yes time to go. How many interweb machines did I have to order?

E: It was three times ten. Just a minute.

(Speaks to machine on wrist) Three times ten.

Machine: Machine malfunction. No answer possible.

P: Gosh! What are we going to do now.

E: I'll have to see ifI can find that pupil in Joan's class. Perhaps she can help ...

P: By the way, are you going to the Mathematical Association conference next year?

E: Where is it!

P: Mars I think.

E: No. I went to the one there three years ago. I think I'll take the family for a short break on Venus, there's a good three day break being advertised. 1-

8 Mathematics in School, November 1996

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