On the Polytechnical Orientation of Mathematics Instruction at the Secondary School Level

Abstract

The functions that are performed by modern mathematics as a science exert a decisive influence on the formation of the content and methods of instruction and on the formation of the poly-technical principles of mathematics in secondary schools. Mathematics occupies an important place in the general system of human knowledge in our time. As one of the foundations of natural science and technology, it has changed its status appreciably among other sciences, has expanded the sphere of its direct application to an extraordinary degree, and has become more and more penetrating in the majority of areas of human knowledge and activity. The methods of mathematics are widely used in the management of enterprises and branches of the economy, and in the economy are used for the automation of industrial production and the introduction of automated (assembly] lines and plants, machines, machine tools, and mills with programmed controls. Today mathematics is also beginning to penetrate traditionally nonmathematical areas: biology, medicine, linguistics, and so forth.