Historical background

The first Chair of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo, Dr. Ralph Stanton, recognized that if this fledgling  institution was to attract bright students, when schools such as Toronto and McGill were already so well known, something new was necessary. With that in mind, the first comprehensive effort to bring university mathematicians in touch with secondary schools was introduced.  There had been contact between university mathematicians and secondary school teachers for many years, but this was the first program involving visits by faculty members to school classrooms, visits by busloads of students to the university for Computer Science Days, and support of the high school developed Canadian Mathematics Competition.

By 1966 the relationship between the university and the teaching community was strengthening.  It became apparent that the commitment of many teachers to offering strong school mathematics programs and the dedication of these people to the development of their students was worthy of recognition.  But how could a university recognize the outstanding efforts of teachers?

During  Ralph Stanton’s tenure at Waterloo, he brought together the team of Ken Fryer (the ideas creator), Arthur Beaumont (the person who found financial support), and Wesley Graham (the creator of computer activities).  These four outstanding individuals saw the need and created the solution.  The René Descartes Foundation for the Advancement of Mathematics was created to develop an undergraduate scholarship program.  The Foundation’s mandate, as its name implies, included the broad area of advancing mathematics education. This included the recognition of those dedicated persons who had devoted their professional lives to the development of their students.

And so the Society of Descartes Medallists was born - an organization unique in many ways.  It provides university recognition of outstanding teachers. Inclusion in the Society is based on all aspects of education involvement, but primarily on an outstanding teaching record. The result is a veritable Who’s Who of mathematics teachers, and it is not at all unusual to see new recipients overwhelmed by the sight of a room full of peers, all of whom have been recognized as giants in their field of endeavour.

The following is an exerpt from an April, 1968 letter from Dr. J.G. Hagey, President of the University of Waterloo, and Professor C.F.A. Beaumont, Chairman of the René Descartes Foundation, to the ten charter members of the Society of Descartes Medallists.

The René Descartes Foundation for the Advancement of Mathematics

Yours very sincerely,