Geometry in Russian Schools: Traditions of Past and State in Present

Abstract

The role of geometry in education and life is enormous. Plato regarded geometry as the first essential in the training of the mind. ‘Let no one destitute of geometry enter my doors’ said the inscription over the door of his school. V. Arnold says that anyone who never studied art of proving cannot a distinguish correct reasoning from a wrong one. Learning solid geometry is important for its applications in physics, crystallography, chemistry etc. Geometric shapes by themselves very often are real works of art and the visual perception of ornaments, polyhedra, their symmetries delights the eye and the underlying structure stimulates the mind. Therefore, in particular, geometry is a powerful tool to attract students to mathematics.