Response to Simmt Article

It may not always be so obvious, but mathematics is very relevant and apparent in many facets of today's society. I have never before thought of the connection between developing "informed, active and critical citizens" and mathematics education and how important it is to have an understanding of mathematics and the societal structures that are heavily based on math. As math teachers we should have in mind these ideas of developing responsible citizens by challenging our students to become critical thinkers. After reading this article and thinking about it, I realize that mathematics is not something that is separate and abstract, but it is something that is very involved. Math is based in logical reasoning's and it is this ability, to think logically, which is necessary for citizens to have and use to make well informed decisions in society. From this, it is important to note that the overall answer is not always the most important aspect of mathematics, but rather it is also the method, or process, which needs to be emphasized and looked at in order to expand our knowledge and to gain the ability solve problems which we are unfamiliar with. Being able to solve these unfamiliar problems, or to come up with something that is sensible can be a very rewarding experience. This feeling can be a useful tool to inspire students to do mathematics and to breakdown misconceptions around mathematics.