My friend Joan O’Hagan, who has died of cancer aged 75, was a gifted adult mathematics educator who never stopped asking questions about her practice and her students’ learning. She was an expert in the wry question that opened alternative lines of thought and adept at getting to the nub of an issue.
Over her career of more than 40 years, Joan inspired and enlightened many. While deeply serious and thoughtful, she approached her work with a lightness, creativity and humour that also characterised her relationships in the wider world.
Joan’s parents, Pat (nee Quigley), a homemaker, and Charlie O’Hagan, a civil engineer, raised their family in Maghera, County Derry. Joan was born and went to school in nearby Magherafelt, and then gained a degree in physics from the New University of Ulster, Coleraine.
In 1976 Joan moved to England, teaching adult numeracy first in Manchester and then in London. In the 1980s Joan and her then partner, Jim Logue, established Walk-In Numeracy, through Hammersmith and Fulham Council for Racial Equality, with adults working together in learning circles. This groundbreaking work was recognised by the Inner London Education Authority when Joan became Ilea adult numeracy coordinator, leading professional development for adult numeracy educators across inner London from 1986 to 1988.
In 1984 Joan gained a private pilot licence (PPL). In 1986 she came across Project Solo, through which people from disadvantaged backgrounds could learn to fly gliders. Joan took Walk-In Numeracy students for training and was later invited to join the project’s committee. She was key to securing funding to enable it to continue. She also provided coaching on gliding theory and for PPL written exams. In 1990, when Joan moved to Birmingham to work at Fircroft residential adult college, she qualified as a gliding air experience instructor.
At Fircroft Joan taught mathematics for access to university, putting it into a cultural and historical context, igniting students’ imaginations and ensuring the success of those who had previously despaired. One student spoke for many: “Came in negative; went out positive.”
Recognising that adult numeracy is a global issue, in 1992 Joan and I co-founded the international Adults Learning Mathematics research forum, bringing together researchers and practitioners to promote adult mathematics learning. Joan contributed fun-packed and enlightening sessions to several ALM international conferences.
From 2000 Joan worked on local, regional and national projects in England and Ireland. She devised and delivered a Basic Skills strategy for the NHS, trained prisoners to act as Maths Mentors to other prisoners, and supported further education teachers to improve their mathematics teaching for the construction industry.
Joan was fascinated by physics, the science of clouds, the mathematics of probability, and history and politics, especially Irish history. Passionately committed to social justice, latterly she taught mathematics to refugees as a volunteer.
Joan managed her dying process well and towards the end expressed contentment with her life. She had a “strong sense of having made enough of a contribution whilst having a great time in adult maths teaching. Perfect combination really.”
She is survived by a sister, Anne, two brothers, Donal and John, and five nieces.
