Symmetry and Dissymmetry in Mathematics Education: One View from England

Mathematics education is a field that tries to reconcile the conflicting demands of different sectors of education and society while maintaining the best climate for the intellectual growth of all children. An investigation by the Maths in Work Project of the Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computing of the University of London Institute of Education into the mathematical nature and uses of cloth confirmed a deep bias in mathematics education against traditional women’s concerns. The project produced learning resources that use textiles to teach mathematics, but its major impact arose from an exhibition called Common Threads, which toured England from 1987–1990 and will subsequently tour the world under the auspices of the British Council.