Skip to main content
  • Book
  • © 2012

Rewriting the History of School Mathematics in North America 1607-1861

The Central Role of Cyphering Books

  • The largest set of original cyphering books ever assembled provides source material
  • Essentially rewrites the history of Mathematics Education in America as we know it
  • Rare photos of the original cyphering books included Places the ciphering tradition in mathematics education in historical and social context

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check for access.

Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvii
  2. The Historical Challenge

    • Nerida Ellerton, M.A. Ken Clements
    Pages 1-6
  3. Development of a Tradition

    • Nerida Ellerton, M.A. Ken Clements
    Pages 7-35
  4. Translating the Cyphering-Book Tradition to North America

    • Nerida Ellerton, M.A. Ken Clements
    Pages 37-78
  5. Formulating the Research Questions

    • Nerida Ellerton, M.A. Ken Clements
    Pages 79-85
  6. The Principal Data Set

    • Nerida Ellerton, M.A. Ken Clements
    Pages 87-117
  7. Ending a 600-Year Tradition: The Demise of the Cyphering Approach

    • Nerida Ellerton, M.A. Ken Clements
    Pages 119-137
  8. Conclusions, and Some Final Comments

    • Nerida Ellerton, M.A. Ken Clements
    Pages 139-152
  9. Back Matter

    Pages 153-223

About this book

The focus of this book is the fundamental influence of the cyphering tradition on mathematics education in North American colleges, schools, and apprenticeship training classes between 1607 and 1861. It is the first book on the history of North American mathematics education to be written from that perspective. The principal data source is a set of 207 handwritten cyphering books that have never previously been subjected to careful historical analysis.

Reviews

From the reviews:

“This book shows that the authors see it as opening the way for further study, and indeed they include very carefully thought out questions for further research. … Other students of life in Colonial North America will also find this a ‘must read’ book … . book is extensively referenced and represents a high level of scholarship. … scholars of mathematics education and its history in North America will find this book a gold mine of information and questions for further research.” (Robert George Stein, Educational Studies in Mathematics, Vol. 82, 2013)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Normal, USA

    Nerida Ellerton, M.A. (Ken) Clements

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Rewriting the History of School Mathematics in North America 1607-1861

  • Book Subtitle: The Central Role of Cyphering Books

  • Authors: Nerida Ellerton, M.A. (Ken) Clements

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2639-0

  • Publisher: Springer Dordrecht

  • eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, Education (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-94-007-2638-3Published: 18 January 2012

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-94-017-8095-7Published: 24 February 2014

  • eBook ISBN: 978-94-007-2639-0Published: 18 January 2012

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVIII, 226

  • Topics: Mathematics Education, History of Mathematical Sciences, Curriculum Studies, History, general

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access