THE STUDY OF ARITHMETIC

News headlines across the Southwest and the nation this week were all about student testing, student scores, and particularly AIMS and Stanford Nines (Next week, I’ll have a column on how MOS fared.) here in Arizona. The implications regarding thousands and thousands of Arizona high school seniors, in 2006, not receiving diplomas because 60% of them did not successfully make the right connections and pass their math section this last spring (they have 4 more tries to pass before graduating) is most troubling, indeed. And the raging debate amongst Arizona educators and department heads about what to do, with so little time left to turn things around, does not inspire confidence, either. While major news publications from the New York Times to the Arizona Republic can only devote so much print to the subject of Arithmetic, I had some late night thoughts on this matter while listening to Mahler’s Ninth Symphony.

Arithmetic and Geometry are essentially human activities. Animals are not interested. It has been said that human evolution and the rise of mathematics are intimately connected, meaning that one can come to an understanding of the evolution of consciousness by studying the history of mathematical thought. The mathematical faculty is an essential attribute of the human experience, and each human being possesses it, whether he or she is particularly gifted or not.

Arithmetic – counting, working with the multiplication tables and with number sequences – has a relationship to our experience of rhythm. We experience rhythm outwardly in the rhythm of the day and the year. We experience these cosmic rhythms inwardly also – in the beating of our heart and in the expansion and contraction of our lungs as we breathe.

Since rhythm is an intrinsic part of our experience of ourselves and of the world, the discovery of number patterns is a source of great joy and wonder in children – and in adults, whose natural love of numbers and number relationships has not atrophied. A feeling of well-being accompanies such discoveries and a feeling of joy at having arrived at a deeper understanding of the secrets of the world. Some discoveries require hard work, but the confidence that the next discovery will be as satisfying as the last and worth the effort, leads many people to be actively involved with numbers just for fun. All one has to do is notice how many puzzle books and columns are available for this engagement.

Geometry relates to our experience of space as arithmetic relates to that of time. The pleasure of playing circle games, square dancing, and working with designs (for example, Celtic braids and knots, form drawing) of all kinds, attest to this deep connection between geometry and our experience of the world around us. The confidence in the reliability of number relationships and the joy in the beauty of geometric forms help the wholesome, healthy growth and development of the child.

But for this ideal to be realized, students need to experience mathematics under the guidance of teachers who have imagination, enthusiasm, and a love for children. Mountain Oak School has just such a faculty of men and women in whom the mathematical faculty is alive and a source of inner joy. As aforementioned, more is still to come next week as we continue to explore together the wonderful world of numbers!

- Merrill Badger, Principal

Happening This Week:

Wed., Sept. 1st is a half-day early dismissal at 12:30 pm. A $3.00 pizza lunch is available sponsored by our 1st grade class.

Thurs., Sept. 2nd Buildings & Grounds Committee work 8:30 to 10:00 am.

Next Monday, Sept., 6th NO SCHOOL enjoy your Labor Day.

CPR and First Aid Classes

SCHOOL NEWS

The MOCS School Directory is in the Making!!
Here Are Three Things For You To Be Aware Of:

1. If you have changed your mind about being in the directory (or out of it), or if household information has changed, say 2 parents want to list 2 phone numbers please let Beni know by the end of this week.
2. ADVERTISE in our Directory. We have over 150 students in our school, that's a lot of families who like to support local businesses!
   
3. Prices are:
   $5 for a business card size*
   $10 for 1/4 page*
   $20 for 1/2 page*
   $40 for a full page**
   Please be sure ads are printer ready. Deadline to submit is Tuesday, Sept 7th.
   

A Note From Fun-Raisers

Tea Garden, our Friday morning social opportunity is up and running. If you haven't already, please sign-up once, twice, or three times to bake or buy a semi-healthy breakfast treat for this year round fundraiser!!!
     Last year Tea Garden made over $1500 fun and easy dollars for MOCS. If you are wondering what sort of wonderful things happen with these funds, here is something recent the funds went toward...Mtn. Oak was able to provide violin scholarships to those families that needed support with that expense.

Thank You to last weeks contributors: Regina Wucinich, Gail Martin, Kim Martin, Pat Babinsky, Martha Jensen, Wilson Family, Carolyn Startzell and Chief Nancy Reid Mckee!!

Want a fun Job?

After Care Director and Teachers wanted to join our After Care staff. Please contact Diane at 541-9580 to learn more about joining our team, caring for our children after school and the hours and compensation we provide.

CSA Opportunity

The Prescott College Community Supported Agriculture (PCCSA) program is about to begin for the year. The program supports local organic farmers and makes available fresh organic produce on a weekly basis. If you want to support a program that is ecologically sustainable, stop by the Mountain Oak office to pick up an information brochure and a shareholder enrollment form. Questions can also be addressed to Mark Riegner, 2nd and 5th grade parent.