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Rosine and her confinement in mathematics

Another exampleof a teacher's mental representation:

<<Rosine: I used to love maths a lot.

In fact I loved all subjects and I had no idea wathsoever about fate and as nobody in my own family was in fact gifted for maths, they were questioning the source of such a liking; Actually, as far as I'm concerned the maths meant a shelter where nobody would bother me; I shut up myself, I felt quiet. I was said: she is within her maths, leave her alone.

Finally I actually confine myself in them.

 

Nimier: For you what mean maths?

R: For me, maths are beautiful, somewhat esthetical, satisfactory...

something personal too, which means that nobody would interfere, meddle between maths and myself.

I believe it is of the outmost importance, it is so my own estate, it's gorgeous, I feel at home. 

To start with, I wished to involve myself in research activity; I spent hours, days, holidays on maths and it was certainly quite a fulfillment.

I felt that it will go on forever, endlessly.

It is frightening for me when I consider the real life: I thought I was achieving something, I believed to fall in love of somebody...

I was so much eager of this, that I did'nt realize what was going on all around and therefore quite unexpectly, occured some collapse.

Many times it happened and as a matter of example in the field of friendship: but with maths I am sure it will not happen, for I stick on my own and here there are only maths and I, I do believe it...I feel that in maths, nobody would disturb me; would'not?...No, I don't know. There is perhaps something I don't understand. It's may be just a fantasy by which I think that nobody can harm me...when it is my own will which leads me to solve a problem in maths...it is in fact a matter of willingness.>>

 

 

Such an example illustrates maths felt as another world

Various mental representations.

 

HOME PAGE
History of mathematics' didactic
What is the mental representation?
Matematical mental representation
Recording interview: René Thom, Dominique, Rosine...
Write to me
Author