Unpacking Ideology in the Classroom, with Tom Mahoney

About this episode

Tom Mahoney joins Allan Dougan to discuss the role of ideology in mathematics education and its impact on teaching practices.

What is mathematics education actually for? Tom Mahoney, numeracy learning specialist, secondary mathematics educator, and PhD candidate in educational philosophy at Deakin University joins AAMT CEO Allan Dougan to explore this deceptively simple but powerful question. Importantly, this episode is not about prescribing a “right” ideology. Instead, it encourages teachers to reflect critically on their own beliefs, the time and energy they spend on particular practices, and how these choices align with the needs of the students in front of them. Tom introduces the concept of ideology in education, describing it as the often-unspoken beliefs and values that shape how mathematics is taught, how students are positioned, and how success is defined. Drawing on classroom experience and philosophical perspectives, the conversation unpacks how ideas about utility, beauty, assessment, and ability influence everyday teaching practice—often without teachers realising it. LINKS Tom Mahoney Blog: https://tommahoneyedu.wordpress.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommahoneyedu/ The Interruption, a monthly blog exploring the ideological nature of education…

People in this episode

Host: Allan Dougan

Guest: Tom Mahoney

Topics covered

• mathematics education
• ideology in education
• teacher reflection
• student needs
• educational philosophy

Keywords

• mathematics education
• ideology
• teacher beliefs
• student success
• educational philosophy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Deakin University, AAMT, The Interruption

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