In this paper we report on the events in 2008 that commemorated the Centennial of the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction. This celebration offered the occasion to look back at the history of ICMI and outline the evolution of mathematics education until it achieved its present status as an academic discipline. The years after WWII up to the late 1960s were crucial in this evolution for both the settlement of some institutional aspects (mainly concerning the relationship with mathematicians) and the establishment of new trends of the activities. In this paper we outline – on the basis of unpublished documents - the role of two important figures in those years: Heinrich Behnke and Hans Freudenthal. First as secretary and later as president, Behnke faced the difficult task of reshaping the newborn ICMI after WWII and clarifying the relationship with mathematicians. His mission was completed by Freudenthal, who, as president of ICMI, definitively broke with the past and promoted important initiatives that fostered the emergence of mathematics education as an academic field.
Celebrating the first century of ICMI (1908-2008) Some aspects of the history of ICMI / Arzarello, F; Giacardi, L; Furinghetti, F; Menghini, Marta. - ELETTRONICO. - unico:(2014), pp. 65-93. (Intervento presentato al convegno 11th International Congress on Mathematical Education (ICME 11) tenutosi a Monterrey, Mexico, nel July 6 - 13, 2008.).
Celebrating the first century of ICMI (1908-2008) Some aspects of the history of ICMI
MENGHINI, Marta
2014
Abstract
In this paper we report on the events in 2008 that commemorated the Centennial of the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction. This celebration offered the occasion to look back at the history of ICMI and outline the evolution of mathematics education until it achieved its present status as an academic discipline. The years after WWII up to the late 1960s were crucial in this evolution for both the settlement of some institutional aspects (mainly concerning the relationship with mathematicians) and the establishment of new trends of the activities. In this paper we outline – on the basis of unpublished documents - the role of two important figures in those years: Heinrich Behnke and Hans Freudenthal. First as secretary and later as president, Behnke faced the difficult task of reshaping the newborn ICMI after WWII and clarifying the relationship with mathematicians. His mission was completed by Freudenthal, who, as president of ICMI, definitively broke with the past and promoted important initiatives that fostered the emergence of mathematics education as an academic field.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
