Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4557-3083
Defense Date
2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Education
First Advisor
Kurt Stemhagen
Abstract
This project seeks to revive interest in late twentieth century humanistic mathematics education (HME) so that its principles might cross the boundary of higher education and settle in corners of the K-12 math education space. In particular, HME’s theme of teaching math humanistically directs attention to features and phenomena that bear strongly on students’ daily classroom experiences. Personhood, agency, inquiry, meaning, environment, feelings, relationships: these elements invite a more thorough meditation and philosophical analysis. Though it is a largely philosophical endeavor, this project is enlivened by classroom vignettes and case studies that bring practical relevance to HME’s core principles. Chapters put HME in relation to different facets of math education and in so doing explore some guiding themes: the centrality of human relationships, the ontological implications of math problems, the nature of mathematical content, and the connection between school math and human values. These philosophical inquiries support efforts to teach mathematics humanistically and help justify the ethics of a more HME-infused math education practice.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
11-14-2025