Basic Skills in Mathematics: A Survey

Abstract

Historians will undoubtedly refer to the period of American education that began in the 1970s as the back-to-basics era. This movement is unique in that its impetus was primarily based on the concerns of the lay public, which were effectively expressed by lawmakers and school board members. Professional educators responded to this thrust of public opinion by attempting to identify the essential basic skills that should be taught in Grades I through 12.