The way the mathematics education is portrayed in the news influences public opinion and judgments about education. In this study, we looked at how different aspects of teaching, learning, assessment and curriculum in school mathematics are framed in Canadian newspaper reports. Our analysis shows a dominant framing from the binary of traditional teaching vs. discovery learning, which is portrayed to be the prevailing cause of students’ decline in mathematics education.

Bios:

Richard Barwell is Professor of Mathematics Education at the Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa. His research includes work on language, multilingualism and discourse analysis in mathematics education. He was educated in the UK before moving to Canada in 2006.

Yasmine Abtahi is part time Professor and a PhD student of Mathematics Education at the Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa. Her research includes work on mathematical tools and artefacts.  She also worked as a mathematics and physics teacher in Canada.