Book,  Full Issue,  Publications,  Thirty-Four Years and Counting

Thirty-Four Years and Counting – The History of the Mathematics Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association

Thirty-Four Years and Counting – The History of the Mathematics Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association

Editors Joan Worth and Art Jorgensen

1995

Publication of the Mathematics Council of The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Foreword

FOR THE EDITORS, WORKING ON THIS SPECIAL HISTORICAL JOURNAL has been a “labor of love” as well as a fascinating trip down memory lane – between us we have served-31 years on the Mathematics Council of The Alberta Teachers’ Association (MCATA) executive.

Preparing this issue has taken us much longer than we anticipated-many , personal’ recollections were sent _to us in 1993. What was particularly difficult and time-consuming was gleaning information from scattered bits
and pieces of old MCATA files, and searching our own memories and those of our colleagues to fill the gaps in the written records. [We have some recommendations for the current executive regarding record keeping that might be started now, which would make the next issue – Fifty Years and Still Counting(?) – easier to put together.]

We, focused on a mixture of. personal recollections and the usual dates and events expected in a conventional history, partly because of the gaps in information available, bµt mostly because MCATA’s history is really a story about people.

One thing we have realized is that MCATA’s success and strength over the years have been a direct result of the caliber and commitment of the people who served on the executive and of those who took on special projects or wrote for the various publications. Although these people were mainly busy teachers,’ they devoted countless hours to MCATA. You might ask, “Why did they do it?” The rewards seem to have been a belief that their efforts would contribute_ to better mathematics learning for Alberta students, a personal sense of professional growth and, not least of all, a lot of fun!

So we dedicate this firs,t history of MCATA to all those who have served the Math Council over the past 34 years. Your efforts have been successful – MCATA is one of the lead­ing mathematics ‘teachers’ organizations in North America. MCATA publications, because o( the hard work of ,the various editors, have gained international recognition. We hope that  recording the achievements of this lighthouse organization will challenge future executives and members-at-large to keep  the Ma them.a tics Council of The Alberta Teachers’ Association a major force in mathematics education in Alberta.

The editors of this· special historical journal thank all those who submitted articles related to their own experiences with MCATA or reported on a particular historical· area of interest.

We’d like to thank the many people at Barnett House who helped our idea come to life. A special thanks to Publications staff Lisa Pashniak, Kate Ballash, Penny Harter and Heather Parker, Designer Yuet Chan and Archivist Lisa Maltby. They tack.l.ed the difficult and challenging project with enthusiasm and dedication. Without their expertise and guidance, this special publication would have been impossible.

We hope you enjoy reading this historical document as much as we enjoyed putting it together.

Joan Worth and Art Jorgensen

Editorial: Thirty-four Years of History

On executive for 19 years-the longest serving member!

1975-83 Secretary
1983-86 Newsletter and Journal Editor
1987-88 Vice President, NCTM Representative
1988-95 Newsletter Editor

AND WE HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN.

The Mathematics Council of The Alberta Teachers’ Association had a noble beginning in ·1961. Since that time, it has undergone many changes in, terms of membership and in the activities it has promoted or participated in.

Annual conferences have been a highlight of the Council, being held throughout the province from Edmonton to Medicine Hat. Numerous mini conferences have also been held in communities large and small.

MCATA has always had just cause to be proud of its publications. delta-K has been published regularly since 1971, under the editorship of such capable people as Ed Carriger and·John Percevault to name just two. Monographs, such as Problem Solving in the Mathematics Classroom, have gained international status.

The Council has always had two concerns, namely, increasing membership, which has ranged from 500 to 1,000, and providing those members with desired services. With close to 15,000 mathematics teachers in Alberta, our goal is to have at least 10 percent of them as members. Therefore, we ask that each current member attempt to sign up an additional teacher.

With regard to service, please let us know what else the Council can do for you. Also, your executive members are all hardworking teachers who are volunteering their time; therefore, they are always looking for help from members-at-large.

As we look forward to the next 30 years, what will MCATA’.s future be? Will it grow and prosper and continue to be a voice to be heard, or will it wither and die? It is really up to the members. To day’s executive members, like those of past years, will do their best. Then they will move on and pass the torch to you. Personally, I have a great deal of confidence in our members and believe that MC.A.TA has a bright future. Let’s make it so.

Art Jorgensen

1 – 2

Front Matter

3

Foreword

Joan Worth and Art Jorgensen

4

Editorial

Art Jorgensen

5 – 6

Greetings

Halvar Jonson, Bauni Mackay, Jack Price, Wendy J. Richards

7

Provincial Executive Members 1961 – 62 & Provincial Presidents

8 – 9

Pictures – History

10 – 11

The Alberta Teachers’ Association Develops Specialist Councils

12 – 13

MCATA’s Formation and Inaugural Conference

14

Council Logos

15

MCATA Overview

16 – 17

Facts and Figures

18 – 19

Summer Seminars

19 – 21

Film Circuits

22

Math Kits

23 – 24

Metric Missionaries

25

Mini-Conferences

25

Convention Displays

26

Regional Councils

27

Contests and Awards

28 – 31

Annual Conferences

32 – 33

Affiliation with NCTM

34 – 35

Affiliation with CAMT

36

Publications

36

Newsletters

37

delta-K

38 – 39

Project Calculator

40

Newsletter Reincarnated

40

Timeless Editorial – A Matter of Survival

41

Math-BIN

42 – 43

Other Publications – The Annual & Monographs

44 – 45

The Schroeder/Frame Report – The Preparation and Continuing Education of Mathematics Teachers in Alberta: A Status Survey and Needs Assessment

45

Blue Ribbon Panel

46 – 47

A Math Supervisor’s Philosophy

Barbara Morrison

48 – 49

Pictures – Looking Back – Personal Reflections

50

Fred Tarlton

50 – 51

Tom Atkinson

52

Jean M. Martin

52 – 53

Ted Rempel

54 – 55

Joan Worth

55 – 56

Marshall P. Bye

56 – 57

Edwin R. Olsen

57

W. S. Lencucha

58

Richard Kopan

59

Charles E. Connors

59 – 60

Bruce Stonell

60 – 61

Ron Cammaert

62

Louise Frame

63 – 64

W. M. (Bill) Brooks

64 – 65

George Ditto

66

Cynthia Ballheim

67

Jean Crawford

68

Lois Marchand

69

Tribute to John Percevault

69

In Memorium – Don Hinde & Norman Inglis

70 – 71

Pictures – Looking Back – Personal Reflections

Download Entire Issue