Introducing History of Mathematics Education Through Its Actors: Peter Treutlein’s Intuitive Geometry

Abstract

This paper deals with the questions why and how to introduce into teacher education the history of teaching practices and educational reforms. In particular, we are interested in the developments of curricular school geometry during the 19th century and the reforms at the beginning of the last century in Germany. The life and work of Peter Treutlein-a contemporary of Felix Klein-and a conceptual reformist of geometry instruction, schoolbook author, committed teacher and school principal with educational experience of many years opens to us many opportunities to link present teaching practices in Geometry to its traditions, some of which we will discuss.