Walter Warwick Sawyer
Encyclopedia
Walter Warwick Sawyer, or W. W. Sawyer, (1911 - 2008) was a mathematician
,
mathematics educator and author
, who taught on several continents
Highgate School
in London. He was an undergraduate at St. John's College, Cambridge, obtaining a BA
in 1933. He was an assistant lecturer in mathematics at from 1933 - 1937 at University
College, Dundee and from 1937 - 1944 at Manchester University. From 1945 - 1947 he was
the head of mathematics at Leicester College of Technology.
In 1948 W. W. Sawyer became the first head of the mathematics department of what is now the
University of Ghana
. From 1951 - 1956 he was at Canterbury College (now the University of Canterbury
in New Zealand
). He left Canterbury College to become an associate
professor at the University of Illinois, where he worked from winter 1957 through June
1958. While there, he criticized the New Math
movement, which included the people who had hired him. From 1958 to 1965 he was a professor of mathematics at Wesleyan University
. In the fall of 1965 he became a professor at the University of Toronto
, appointed to both the College of Education and the Department of Mathematics. He
retired in 1976.
W. W. Sawyer was the author of some 11 books. He is probably best known for his semi-popular works Mathematicians Delight and Prelude to Mathematics. Both of these have been translated into many languages. Mathematician's Delight was still in print 65 years after it was written. Some mathematicians have credited these books with helping to inspire their choice of a career.
W.W. Sawyer died on February 15, 2008, at the age of 96. He was survived by a daughter.
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
,
mathematics educator and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, who taught on several continents
Life and career
Walter Warwick Sawyer was born in London, England on April 5, 1911. He attendedHighgate School
Highgate School
-Notable members of staff and governing body:* John Ireton, brother of Henry Ireton, Cromwellian General* 1st Earl of Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice, owner of Kenwood, noted for judgment finding contracts for slavery unenforceable in English law* T. S...
in London. He was an undergraduate at St. John's College, Cambridge, obtaining a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1933. He was an assistant lecturer in mathematics at from 1933 - 1937 at University
College, Dundee and from 1937 - 1944 at Manchester University. From 1945 - 1947 he was
the head of mathematics at Leicester College of Technology.
In 1948 W. W. Sawyer became the first head of the mathematics department of what is now the
University of Ghana
University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
. From 1951 - 1956 he was at Canterbury College (now the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
). He left Canterbury College to become an associate
professor at the University of Illinois, where he worked from winter 1957 through June
1958. While there, he criticized the New Math
New math
New Mathematics or New Math was a brief, dramatic change in the way mathematics was taught in American grade schools, and to a lesser extent in European countries, during the 1960s. The name is commonly given to a set of teaching practices introduced in the U.S...
movement, which included the people who had hired him. From 1958 to 1965 he was a professor of mathematics at Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
. In the fall of 1965 he became a professor at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, appointed to both the College of Education and the Department of Mathematics. He
retired in 1976.
W. W. Sawyer was the author of some 11 books. He is probably best known for his semi-popular works Mathematicians Delight and Prelude to Mathematics. Both of these have been translated into many languages. Mathematician's Delight was still in print 65 years after it was written. Some mathematicians have credited these books with helping to inspire their choice of a career.
W.W. Sawyer died on February 15, 2008, at the age of 96. He was survived by a daughter.
Partial bibliography
- Mathematician's Delight, (Penguin, 1943), is probably his best known book.
- Prelude to Mathematics (Penguin, 1955)
- A Concrete Approach to Abstract Algebra, (Freeman, 1959)