I see another icon of the past has passed away: Tom Lehrer. Lehrer was a mathematician who put his talents to great use, in contrast with mathematicians like the neocon Paul Wolfowitz and Iraqi Ahmed Chalabi who helped foment the Iraq War.  He skewered all the shibboleths of the times (1950s and 60s) with his pre-politically-correct take-downs, mainly to the music of Gilbert and Sullivan.

Among his targets was the “New Math”—the Common Core of 60 years ago and a reminder that some things never change.  Fortunately, the New Math infiltrated public schools after my time, but you will recognize that its purpose is for students to understand math and not just perform rote manipulations.  A truly noble intent, but its continued reincarnation indicates how difficult it is to achieve.  So we are left with humor at our folly.

This video of “New Math” is from a live 1965 performance of “That Was the Year That Was”.  A more famous song is Lehrer’s musical rendition of the chemical periodic table, “The Elements” (performed live in 1967 in Denmark).  I invite you to listen to all his songs for an irreverent window into the past.

See “Tom Lehrer Dies at 97” for a PDF copy of his obituary.