Some Objectives to be Realized in a Course in Plane Geometry

Abstract

The title of this paper—" Some Objectives to be Realized in a Course in Plane Geometry"—naturally suggests to the mind of the reader the question: What Objectives? The National Council classifies Mathematical Objectives as (1) Practical or utilitarian, (2) Disciplinary, and (3) Cultural. Cultural Objectives are subdivided into three parts: (a) Appreciation of beauty in the geometric forms of nature, art, and industry, (b) Ideals of perfection as to logical structure, precision of statement and thought, discrimination between the true and the false, etc., and (c) Appreciation of the power of Mathematics. Important as are the practical and disciplinary ends, I am not going to touch on them except in an indirect way, and as to the cultural, I shall confine myself to only one division, namely, appreciation of beauty in the geometric forms of nature and art.