Morris Kline Professor of mathematics, teacher of history, philosophy and mathematics, prominent popularizer of mathematics. Date of Birth: 01.05.1908 Country: USA

Biography of Morris Klein

Morris Klein was a professor of mathematics, a teacher of history, philosophy, and mathematics, and a prominent mathematics popularizer. He was born and raised in Brooklyn and Jamaica, Queens. After graduating from high school, Klein went on to study mathematics at New York University. He obtained his bachelor's degree in 1930, his master's degree in 1932, and his doctoral degree in 1936. Klein remained at the university and worked as an instructor until 1942.

During World War II, Klein served in the United States Army Signal Corps, stationed in Belmar, New Jersey. Despite his background in physics, Klein applied his abilities and talents to the practical development of radar in a local engineering laboratory. After the war, he continued his study of electromagnetism and became the director of electromagnetic research at the Courant Institute from 1946 to 1966.

Klein later returned to teaching mathematics at New York University and became a full professor in 1952. He remained at the university until 1975, during which time he authored numerous articles and over a dozen books on various aspects of mathematics and mathematics education. In his works on education, Klein emphasized the importance of demonstrating the applied aspects and practicality of mathematics, believing that expecting students to be enthralled by pure mathematical theory was foolish. He also advocated for research to focus on practical problems rather than creating interesting constructions solely for other mathematicians.

Klein also had strong opinions about teaching in general, arguing that every teacher should have a touch of acting in their approach. He believed that teaching should involve a certain level of drama and should not be limited to a mere recitation of facts. Adding a touch of eccentricity and humor would enliven an otherwise dull lecture and ignite additional enthusiasm in students. Ultimately, Klein achieved significant success in changing the format of mathematics education through his efforts, initiating the creation of various programs.

In 1977, Klein shifted his focus to teaching at the university level and quickly identified certain challenges. He argued that professors who were too specialized in their fields could not be effective teachers due to a lack of broad knowledge. His new theses sparked controversy and criticism but eventually led to some changes in teaching practices. Morris Klein passed away on June 10, 1992, at the age of 84.