Mathematics & Active Citizenship

Bottom line;
Mathematical Literacy is an important component of active citizenship and the democratic process itself.

References; Linking mathematics education and Democracy: Citizenship, Mathematical Archeology, Mathemacy and Deliberative Interaction by Ole Skovsmose published in ZDM Volume 30, Number 6 / December, 1998

Definitions;
Mathematical literacy (or Mathemacy); I agree with Ole who defines mathemacy as similar to Paulo Freire's notion of literacy which is more than simply being able to read and write but also competence in reading one's social life, being able to "read the world".

Active Citizenship; the active role of people, communities and voluntary organizations in decision making
which directly affects them. This extends the concept of formal citizenship and democratic society from one of basic civil, political and social and economic rights to one of direct democratic participation and responsibility (as defined by the Irish Government's white paper on supporting community volunteering and referenced in a white paper by the Irish Taskforce on Active Citizenship.

Main Body;
Skovsmose makes a very valid point. While I had always considered the mathematical dimension to democratic elections and the mathemacy to critical analyse media and governmental output. I had not considered students employing their mathemacy to generate their own input into the democratic process. Skovsmoses uses an anecdote to illustrate this point, recounting a project entitled "Our community" where a group of students mathematical investigate various pertinent issues in the local community. One aspect of this I would be wary of relates to the forum for the students. If the students carry out this research to find that their is not a suitable forum for their input (which there should be in a perfect world) then it can be very dis-empowering. In this case, Skovsmose invited the local major to have a conversation with the students, I would disagree with this course of action as it deprives the students of learning to discern the most appropriate method of the employing their research to the best effect (e.g. do you organise a meeting with the major or organise a public meeting and invite him to speak). Facilitation rather than orchestration.