On Teacher Education and on Key Problems of Teaching Mathematics

Professor Z. Krygowska in her article, opening the frst issue of the PTM (Polish Mathematical Society) journal Didactics of mathematics (Dydaktyka Matematyki), (Krygowska, 1981) noted that the teacher and his preparation, and thus the problems of teaching mathematics, are never ahistorical. We live here and now, our pupils (students, doctoral students) are immersed in the contemporary time and in the current form of being. The Internet, computer games, the considerable computational capabilities even of smartphones (and, more specically, the relevant applications) - seem to solve many of the needs that were once met by mathematical skills. Mathematics is becoming more useful and, at the same time, less noticeable by people (a so-called - background usability). What 10 years ago was a strong motivating element, is now ceasing to be a problem.