Open Mathematical Education Notes

49--62

Authors: Daniel A. Romano

The goal of this paper is to present to the international academic community some specificity in mathematics education of the Republic of Srpska [RS] primary school teachers. The paper draws on some previously published texts on the mathematical and methodical literacy of the RS prospective primary school teachers. The observations on this segment of mathematical education in the RS are the final comments of the author within the project „Research of mathematical and pedagogical literacy of prospective primary school teachers” which is realized by the Scientific Society of Mathematicians Banja Luka. The author deeply believes that accepting these observations and assessments can be a very useful argument to our academic community in negotiating with the RS social-political community on rising the quality of mathematics education. With this commitment, the author has revealed several examples of failures in the education of prospective elementary school teachers in the following domains: (a) specific geometric knowledge necessary for teachers; (b) specific methodological-geometric knowledge necessary for teachers, and (c) understanding of the process of teaching and the process of student's learning of geometry. These omissions in mathematics education of elementary school teachers are the systemic failures and cannot be eliminated within the existing educational paradigm by stronger efforts of the teachers themselves according to the author’s deep belief.