A Mathematician’s Lament

In this essay mathematician Paul Lockhart makes the argument that math is an art form, and should be taught like one.

This essay was later expanded into a full book.

“So put away your lesson plans and your overhead projectors, your full-color textbook abominations, your CD-ROMs and the whole rest of the traveling circus freak show of contemporary education, and simply do mathematics with your students! Art teachers don’t waste their time with textbooks and rote training in specific techniques. They do what is natural to their subject— they get the kids painting. They go around from easel to easel, making suggestions and offering guidance.”