The Mathematics of Card Playing in an Aboriginal Community

Abstract

The teaching of mathematics to Aboriginal children poses many difficulties for teachers. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal teachers agree that many Aboriginal children are not making adequate progress in their development of mathematical understanding. The teaching of mathematics in Aboriginal communities is discussed in the Northern Territory Infants Curriculum (1974 : 119–123). After reviewing the outcomes of a desirable mathematics course the curriculum writers conclude that “many Aboriginal children do not manifest many of these outcomes at a level comparable with that obtained by European children”.

John Gay and Michael Cole have written a very valuable book, The New Mathematics and an Old Culture, which examines the teaching of mathematics in a cross-cultural situation. They state that

“... in order to teach mathematics effectively, we must know more about our students. In particular we must know more about the indigenous mathematics so that we can build effective bridges to the new mathematics we are trying to introduce.” (Gay and Cole, 1967:1)