THE MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
1950s
In the 1950s, the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I, the world's first artificial satellite. That event ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. The U.S. compared its education system to Russia’s and found that Russian students were attending school six days a week and for more hours each day than our students. Russia focused on the more capable students; the U.S. focused on the weaker learners. Sputnik’s success placed pressure on educational communities to ensure our students made significant gains in mathematics and science knowledge.
The Laboratory School Department of Mathematics teaching faculty during the 1950s included Mary Anderson, Russell Drumright, Donald Herrick, Joseph Hohlfeld, George Immerzeel, Cyril Jackson, William Maricle, Della McMahon, Ross Nielsen, Lyman Peck, Helen Schweizer, and Donald Wiederanders. (To see a comprehensive list of Price Laboratory School Faculty please visit our Faculty Roster.)
Teaching
In 1955, Ross A. Nielsen, like Cliff Stone before him, arrived in Cedar Falls just as the Lab School was set to open its new high school on ISTC’s north campus. He was an ideal hire to Chair the Math Department for his 1954 University of Iowa doctoral dissertation had been a study of “Mathematics Teaching in Iowa High Schools.” Nielsen and faculty soon were rewriting courses to match the challenge of the Modern mathematics movement.
NCA Approval of PLS Secondary School
In 1958, Price Laboratory School initiated a self-study and applied for outside accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. A letter was received from the North Central Association's office stating that the school was placed on the list of secondary schools receiving accreditation at the meeting of the Association Board. No visitation was held but faculty held departmental meetings to set goals for their departments based on this report.
Publications
The Iowa State Teachers College and Price Laboratory School math departments had some of the major leaders in the (modern mathematics) movement,” stated Ross Nielsen. "In some math journals, they were identified as the cradle of modern mathematics.”
Service
The Mathematics Department of the Laboratory School participates actively in all phases of the college program in professional laboratory experiences for prospective teachers. It also contributes to the college field service program for the public schools by providing:
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Resource persons at teacher in-service meetings, county institutes, workshops and career days
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Instructors for extension classes taught in various parts of the state;
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Curriculum consultants to the State Department of Public Instruction and the public schools;
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Materials for bulletins and publications; and
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Speakers for local, state, and national meetings, conferences, and conventions.
Faculty from Regent’s Institutions and the Iowa Department of Education work collaboratively in sponsoring seminars, conferences, and workshops for public school teachers in the areas of elementary, junior high and senior high school mathematics.
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