This session will (1) revisit two influential position papers crafted under Margaret Sinclair’s leadership that called for (a) significantly higher standards for professional programs that would lead to mathematics teacher certification in elementary and secondary schools; and (b) mandatory, specialized mathematics content components for ‘mathematics education’ courses required by pre-service teachers if their future students are to succeed. Included in the discussion will be arguments that “mathematics education” is plagued by legacy language and traditions that belittle its academic standing, depreciate its rigor and underserve classroom teachers and their students. The session will call for a radical revamp of Canadian mathematics education programs to reflect the equitable interdisciplinarity, rigor and oversight fundamental to a professional, not occupational field.

Bio

Lynda Colgan is Professor Emerita, Faculty of Education, Queen’s University. She began her tenure-track position in Elementary Mathematics Education at Duncan McArthur Hall in 1998 after a 25-year career with the Scarborough Board of Education. During her time with the Scarborough Board, she was a secondary mathematics and science/biology teacher; a Grade 5 classroom teacher; Vice-Principal; computers in education District-wide Consultant; and K-Grade 12 Mathematics Coordinator. In the latter two roles, she was responsible for curriculum development and implementation, large-scale assessment and evaluation and data-based professional development in 218 schools that served 81,000 students. Lynda has been the recipient of many awards for her work in mathematics, technology and community outreach, including the Marshall McLuhan Distinguished Teacher Award; Jonathan Borwein Mathematics Ambassador Award; NSERC Individual Award for Science Promotion; Margaret Sinclair Memorial Award; Queen’s Distinguished Service Award; OAME Award for Outstanding Contribution to Mathematics Education in Ontario; and, King Charles Coronation Medal.