On Poetic Mathematical Knowledge: Growing Mathematicians That Feel

• In Event: Digging in the Soil: Bringing Light to the Invisible

Abstract

Poetry allows for the writer (the poet) to have a deeper relationship with self, whereby performing poetry (self) provides an opportunity to build bridges to and with others. To hear poetry provides an opportunity to learn about the experiences and knowledge of others. Does mathematics have the same reflective and transformative qualities? The most common answer is no due to the negative experiences people gain in K-18 education and to typical images of mathematicians in popular media being that of awkward individuals that struggle to understand emotions. This proposal builds on the idea of soil work to emphasize and center the importance of mathematics being not just scientific knowledge but also spiritual-cultural knowledge through the lens of Poetic Mathematical Knowledge (PMK). PMK embraces the tensions between scientific (mathematical) knowledge and “non” scientific (“non”-mathematical) knowledge in order to have a reflexive understanding of mathematics. In line with Lorde (2000) view on poetry, PMK is a vital component for our existence and builds on our hopes and dreams towards survival and change. An example of PMK can be seen in the words of Yasin Bey (1999) “Numbers is hard and real and they never have feelings. But you push too hard, even numbers got limits. Why did one straw break the camel's back? Here's the secret. The million other straws underneath it, it's all mathematics.” Here we see a deep reflection on mathematics with mathematical terms that highlights the complexities of societal injustices in saying that it is rarely one event, one moment in time, that creates inequities. The words of Yasin Bey are from a song titled mathematics that addresses multiple issues caused by the industrial prison complex. Mathematics needs to be viewed as a critical literacy that allows people to understand better self, the world (others), and mathematics, which is the goal of PMK. This session will discuss PMK across two cases. The first will focus on the use of poetry for preparing future elementary mathematics teachers to critically reflect on how mathematics is both a scientific and cultural way to construct knowledge. The second centers on mathematical reflection and mathematical action by highlighting youth engagement in mathematical youth participatory action research. In both cases, PMK worked to create community towards collective action in bringing about social transformation in and outside of mathematics. Research on Mathematics and poetry is vital “soil work” needed to grow mathematics committed to social transformation.

Author

• Ricardo Martinez, Pennsylvania State University
  Presenting Author