Mathematics Education and its Influence in Curricular Organization and Development in Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this article is to introduce a summary of the process of curricular organization and development in Brazil, especially in the period from 1960, when the influence of the Modern Mathematics Movement (M.M.M.) began, up to the current moment, aiming to analyze the influence of the field of Mathematics Education in this process. Curricular organization and development are generally impelled by projects resulting from national and regional public policies, such as the M.M.M., and presently international evaluations such as the International Program of Students Evaluation exert an influence on decisions related to curriculums. Because they are not academic documents, the theoretical sources are not made explicit in the original texts; however, they can be found in the bibliographic references, and are also easily identifiable in their formulation, thus revealing the most important influences in each period. In presenting the path of this process, we hope to emphasize the need to broaden and deepen studies about curricular organization and development in the field of Mathematics Education, and also the need to include this subject as an essential element for teacher education. Keywords: Curricular Organization and Development. Mathematics Education.