The Urbanized Orientation In The Current Mathematics Teaching Materials Of Primary And Secondary Schools

These years, with the implementation of the western development strategy in China, the rural education in West China has been attracting more and more attention from all levels of government, experts and scholars, with growing efforts in research and fruitful results. The mathematics education, as a major component of the basic education, plays a vital role. To strengthen the research in mathematics education is of profound significance in a deep exploration of the basic education, particularly the basic education in rural areas of West China. This study explores the issue of the urbanized orientation of the mathematics teaching materials, through the survey and analysis among various schools in Gengma, Yunnan, with a focus on textbooks, test paper, and teaching resources, etc., aiming to provide some basis for the theoretical and practical researches, so that the teaching materials can be better compiled and the mathematics education in rural areas of West China can be improved.This study adopts both qualitative and quantitative methodology. With an arduous effort in literature reviews, surveys and questionnaires, interviews, as well as field trips, etc., the problems that are emphasized in the study are as follows: (1) What the overall situation of the mathematics education in rural areas of West China is; (2) How the teaching materials are applied in rural areas of West China; (3) Whether the urbanized orientation exists in the current mathematics teaching materials; (4) Whether the urbanized orientation exists in the examination and assessment systems; (5) How influential the urbanized orientation is.In accordance with the research findings, due to the shortage of teaching materials, the teachers and students in rural areas of West China are more reliable on the teaching materials. In other words, the teaching materials have a critical influence on the mathematics education in rural areas of West China. An obvious urbanized orientation is found in the current mathematics teaching materials, while such orientation is also found in exams. This makes the mathematics study in rural areas of West China, for the primary school students in particular, even more difficult. The teachers in rural areas of West China are bearing the stress from the urbanized orientation in the teaching materials and examinations, quietly. Though there are effects in relieving such stress from the students thanks to the teachers' efforts, problems are still lingering and need further resolution.To conclude, based on the findings of this study, this paper proposes many specific suggestions and corresponding case studies on the compiling of the teaching materials, the self-developed curriculum resources by the rural teachers, and the improvements of exams, etc.