Mathematical Association facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | MA |
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| Formation | 1871 |
| Legal status | Non-profit organisation and registered charity |
| Purpose | Professional organisation for mathematics educators |
| Location |
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Region served
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UK |
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Main organ
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MA Council President – Professor Nira Chamberlain (2023-2024) |
| Website | https://www.m-a.org.uk |
The Mathematical Association is a special group in the United Kingdom. It is all about making mathematics education better for everyone. This group helps teachers and students learn and share ideas about maths.
Contents
A Look Back: History
How It Started
The Mathematical Association began a long time ago, in 1871. Back then, it was called the "Association for the Improvement of Geometrical Teaching." Its main goal was to make geometry teaching better. In 1894, the group changed its name to the Mathematical Association. It was the very first group for teachers of a specific subject in England!
Famous People and Big Events
In 1927, the Association held a special meeting in Grantham. This meeting was to remember Sir Isaac Newton, a super famous scientist and mathematician, 200 years after he passed away. Many important people attended, including Sir J. J. Thomson, who discovered the electron, and Sir Frank Watson Dyson, the top astronomer in the UK.
A big moment happened in 1951. Mary Cartwright became the first woman to be the president of the Mathematical Association. This was a huge step forward!
In the 1960s, there were changes in schools. The Association supported a system called the 11-plus. This was a test that decided which secondary school students would go to. The Association also offered a special award for maths teachers called the "Diploma in Mathematical Education."
What They Do
The main goal of the Mathematical Association is to "make teaching mathematics better." They also want to help students and teachers talk to each other about maths.
Since 1894, the Association has published a magazine called The Mathematical Gazette. This magazine shares new ideas and information about maths education. The Association also helps organize a big maths event every four years. It is called the British Congress of Mathematics Education.
Where They Are and How They Work
The main office of the Mathematical Association is in Leicester, England. It is located near De Montfort University.
Besides its main Council, the Association has seven other special groups. These groups focus on different areas of maths education.
Local Groups
The Mathematical Association also has many local groups across the UK. Sometimes, they share these groups with another organization called the Association of Teachers of Mathematics (ATM). These local groups help teachers and students in different areas connect and share ideas.
Here are some of the places where they have branches:
- Birmingham
- Cambridge
- East Midlands
- Exeter
- Gloucester
- Liverpool
- London
- Greater Manchester
- Meridian
- Stoke and Staffordshire
- Sheffield
- Sussex
- Yorkshire
Important People Who Led the Way
Many brilliant people have been presidents of the Mathematical Association. They helped guide the group and improve maths education.
Here are a few notable presidents:
- 1871 Thomas Archer Hirst (first president of the original association)
- 1891 James Joseph Sylvester
- 1915–1916 Alfred North Whitehead
- 1924–1925 G. H. Hardy
- 1930–1931 Arthur Eddington
- 1951 Mary Cartwright (first female president)
- 1958 Max Newman
- 1981 Michael Atiyah
- 2012 Professor Marcus Du Sautoy
- 2020 Professor Hannah Fry
- 2023 Professor Nira Chamberlain (current president)
See also
- London Mathematical Society
- Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
