School Mathematics: A Bipolar Subject

School mathematics has essentially two sources: the practical concepts of arithmetic and geometry that students need if they are to become productive, literate citizens, more abstract generalisations allow them reason about numbers, shapes, phenomena. In other words, school is necessity both applied pure. Until middle twentieth century, pole dominated in primary grades pure secondary grades. During so-called new math era (from mid-1960s mid-1980s later some countries), efforts were made update curriculum by bringing it closer being taught universities. Since time, movement appears have been largely direction pole, partly because attracted using learning but also computers developments making applications accessible. The necessarily a mixture ideas from poles.