Regarding NCTQs standard on elementary training in mathematics, what is so magic about its recommendation of three math courses?
The three-course requirement is not arbitrary, but based on a calculation of how much class time is required to cover the 12 essential topics of elementary mathematics. A two-course requirement means that the institution is either skipping essential topics or treating topics too lightly. A four-course requirement is likely to be inefficient. Further, the lack of any clear consensus among American institutions about what aspiring elementary teachers need in mathematics is quite problematic. The diffuse requirements compare poorly with the more consistent standards found in other countries. In the United States, institutions require anywhere from no math courses to five. Some institutions require that these courses be designed specifically for the teacher; others insist that teacher candidates take the same courses as other students on the campus. Many institutions fail to delineate the type of course that a teacher should take, viewing all courses as equally valid. Clearly this absence
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