Prologue

Abstract

Arithmetic was not taught to all children at primary schools, only to those who were willing to pay an extra fee. At Latin schools, no mathematics was taught. Mathematics was mainly taught at French and vocational schools for practical purposes. While mathematical research and mathematics teaching at the Artes Liberalis of universities were often of little significance, at most universities, practical courses in the vernacular were also given. Towards the end of the eighteenth century, at some Societies, lectures in mathematics were given to the children of their members. Dissatisfaction about the situation of primary and Latin schools was growing towards the second half of the eighteenth century. The Dutch Republic did not have a centralised educational policy; education was left to the various provinces and cities and to private initiatives, which hampered attempts to reform. Influences of other countries remained limited. During the period of French domination (1795–1813), when the central government became more powerful, a nationwide law on primary education was realised that introduced arithmetic as a mandatory subject. However, for secondary education, despite several reports and proposals advocating the modernisation of the curricula of Latin schools, including mathematics, nothing was achieved.