ABSTRACT
Every teacher of mathematics should ask themselves the following basic questions. What is mathematics? Why teach mathematics? The immediate reason why we teach mathematics is that we have to, and our children must learn it, because it is in the National Curriculum. But why is it there? There must be a reason why it is thought to be so important. Answering this question explains why everyone thinks mathematics is so important, and what we should emphasise to our children. Also, having a clear idea why we teach mathematics can serve as a source of inspiration, a vision of what our children can gain from learning the subject.
