ABSTRACT
Probability and statistics are coming! Actually, they are already here. Selected topics have been incorporated and mandated into many state frameworks and mathematics curricula. The study of probability and statistics has been around for a long time. An important statistical test (t test) was developed by William Gossett of the Guinness Brewery at the turn of the century to keep hops and barley in the best condition. At the same time, John Dewey was using a “scientific method” that utilized no statistical processes. His well-accepted educational philosophies that were tested in his laboratory school were the result of a sample size of 10 nonrandomly chosen students. His scientific method used 80 years ago would not be accepted as valid research practices in master’s or doctoral programs today. Maybe that says statistics is new. Statistics has received little to no emphasis in the secondary curriculum until relatively recently. That is changing, as evidenced by the number of texts that now include statistics and probability topics.
