The Japan Society of Mathematical Education (JSME)
Yoshishige Sugiyama
President of the Japan Society of Mathematical Education
History
The Japan Society of Mathematical Education (JSME) is a nonprofit
professional association. Started as an organization for secondary
mathematics teachers, the JSME was established in 1919. Since then,
the JSME has played an important role to develop research in
mathematics education and to improve, nation-wide, mathematics
education in Japan. The JSME is the largest mathematics education
organization in Japan. It is composed of about 4,000 members
distributed over all areas of Japan, and includes teachers from
kindergarten to university, administrators and researchers. The JSME
is officially acknowledged by the Science Council of Japan.
Goals
The JSME has several goals for improving Japanese mathematics
education and it has been active with respect to the following points.
Leading Curriculum Reform
The JSME has played a critical role in developing the national school
mathematics curriculum, which is revised about every ten years and is
officially authorized by the Japanese Minister of Education as the
Course of Study (National Curriculum Standards).
Promoting Professional Development
The main activity of the JSME is the annual meeting of mathematics
teachers which is held in every summer, the biggest meeting of the
Society. It includes several workshops and lectures focusing on
up-to-date teaching and learning issues. The annual meeting involves
local organizations and teachers, two thirds of whom are
non-members. The JSME also organizes a research-oriented annual
conference which is held in every autumn.
Encouraging Research and Classroom Practice
The JSME publishes three kinds of Journals: Arithmetic Education (6
issues a year) focusing on elementary school mathematics, Mathematics
Education (6 issues a year) focusing on secondary mathematics
education, and the Reports of Mathematics Education (2 issues a year),
a research-oriented journal. Newsletters are attached with the first
two journals to provide teachers with useful information from domestic
and/or international view points. The JSME also publishes its
Yearbooks. The first volume of JSME Yearbook was published in 1995.
Cooperating with Other Organizations
Domestically, the JSME is recognized as the leading mathematics
education organization, and has a great influence on local educational
organizations all over the country. Internationally, the JSME has
cooperated with organizations such as NCTM (National Council of
Teachers of Mathematics) in the United States, GDM (Gesellschaft
fuer Didaktik der Mathematik) in Germany and AAMT (Australian
Association of Mathematics Teachers) which mutally recognize each
other as Corresponding Societies.
Organization
The JSME is governed by a 23-member Board of Directors. It has seven
sections; Administration, Research, Public and International
Relations, Research Data Collection, Journals, Publication, and
"Ronkyu" (Research Communications). The JSME also has several
committees. These groups take the lead to develop, implement, and
coordinate the JSME's services and programs.
ICME-9 in Japan in the year 2000
The JSME is looking forward to meeting you in Japan in the year 2000
at the ICME-9. It will be held in Tokyo / Makuhari at the beginning of
August. In addition to research and scientific activities we are
planning social and cultural activities which will give you a better
understanding of Japan.
Yoshishige Sugiyama
Department of Mathematics and Informatics, Tokyo Gakugei University
Koganei, Tokyo, 184 JAPAN, sugiyama@u-gakugei.ac.jp
JSME Office
PO BOX 18, Koishikawa, Tokyo, 112 JAPAN,
Tel : 81-3-3946-2267, Fax: 81-3-3946-3736