「ベンキョマン」

149 Comments

出身高校の生徒が数学オリンピックで金メダルを取ったというニュースが紹介されていて，嬉しく，懐かしくなりました．

数学オリンピックと言うと中学・高校の同級生の「ベンキョマン」と呼ばれていた子のことを思いだします．彼は中学の卒論 1で「絶対的正当性」というようなタイトルの数式を駆使した絶対に論破されない理論のフレームワーク（？）のようなものを書いていました．僕には全然理解できなかったのですが，こいつはすごい奴だけどちょっと近寄り難い奴だと思っていました．ちなみに僕のチームの論文は「相撲について」でしたから，当時から興味や関心の差が一目瞭然でした．

当時の僕は「数学オリンピック」なんて知りませんでしたが，あるとき数学の教師が「◯◯（＝ベンキョマン）でも最終チームに残るのは難しいんだよなあ」ということをつぶやいていたのが記憶に残っています．数学オリンピックとは何と高いレベルの闘いが繰り広げられてる場所なんだろうか，と畏怖の念を抱いたのでした．

それから７年後，私がボストンに行った後にずっと謎に包まれていた「数学オリンピック」の実態が少しだけわかりました．周りの日本人に「数オリ出身者」というのが多くていろいろ話を聞けたのです．「高校生による数学の国際的な大会」と言うのはある一面の説明でしょうが，それだけではなくて，ある意味で体育会系の人間味のある人が集まるグループだとも思いました．「合宿」があったり，先輩が後輩の面倒をみたり，大会に出るための選考があり，行ける人と行けない人に分けられるシビアな現実もあるようでした．普通の高校生 2が数学というテーマについて真剣に議論して，練習して高みを目指す部活のようなものだと思いました．

いつだったか数オリメンバーの１人が何とも自然に「高校時代や大学の１年の頃に集まって，大学院の教科書を使った勉強会をしていた」のような話をしていたことも覚えています．「研究」で食べていくなら自分はこういう人たちと競争するのかと圧倒されました．でもよくよく考えたら，僕も中学生の時に「柔道歴は小学校の頃から７年です」みたいな人とも試合をしてて，勝ったり負けたりしてました．だから自分が「勉強」とか「研究」で食べて行こうと思った時点から頑張れば良いのだとも思いました．一方で，彼らは早い段階で自分が打ち込むものを決めようとした人たちではないかと思いました．彼らの現在の仕事や分野は様々ですが，それはとてもカッコいいことだと思いました．

数オリ出身者の真価を見せつけられた機会に「数学談義」（別名「キモ会」）と呼ばれる勉強会がありました．いい年した大人が数学の問題を解くために集まって食事をしながら解法について話し合う集まりでした．「数オリ出身者」から「数学は好き」から「家族と一緒に来た」人まで，様々な興味レベルの人が楽しめる集まりでした 3．とある数オリ出身者の問題へのアプローチを見て，本当に物事を突き詰められる人は，それにより周りのことを俯瞰できるのではないかという（つまり，狭い範囲のものを突き詰めていたら，結果として広い範囲の見方がわかるようになっているような），抽象的なことを考えました 4．ところでそもそも我々の年齢になって週末に数学の問題を解いても一文の得にもなりませんから，数学を楽しみに来る人しか集まらなかったので「勉強会」のあり方としては理想的だったと思います．こういう勉強会はまたやりたいですね．

＊＊＊

数学オリンピック出身者と話すようになって思ったのは，彼らは高校生の段階で１つテーマ（自分の取り組むこと）を決めて，それに真剣に向き合い，非常に高いレベルで競争をしてきたのだろうと言うことです．もちろん才能に恵まれたこともあるのでしょうが，自分がパッションを持つテーマを絞り，鍛錬を重ねること自体が賞賛に値することだと思います．だって大人になっても，自分が何に情熱を持って打ち込むか決められない人や，決めてもそれに踏み出せない人は少なくないのですから．

だから出場実績の有無は違っても「ベンキョマン」と呼ばれた同級生も同じく素晴らしいですし（もちろん数オリに出てないだけで，優秀なのは疑いないです），自画自賛するつもりもないですが，柔道ばかりしていた僕も振り返れば自分に誇れる学生時代を送っていたのだと思います．テーマを決めてそれに取り組んだことは財産になっていますし，今でも役に立っています．

振り返ると当時の僕は「ベンキョマン」は勉強ばかりしていてイケてないと揶揄する意図を含んでそのように呼んでいたのだと思います．中学，高校生だったとは言え，真剣に物事に取り組む人を揶揄するなど彼には申し訳なかったと思います．でもそこで「ベンキョマン」に「もっと視野を広げろよ」などという，視野の狭いアドバイスをする大人や同級生のプレッシャーがなかったのは，良い学習環境であったと言えるのでしょう．「様々な価値を受け入れろ」という社会が「単一の価値にのめり込むという価値」を過小評価するのは，皮肉ですがよくある話です．ですから，数学オリンピックの入賞者を賞賛することを契機に，華々しい実績がなかろうが，視野が狭く見えようが，それが勉強でも運動でも作曲でもプログラミングでもファッションでも料理でも，真剣に物事に打ち込む若者のやる気を削がないような雰囲気作りに繋がることを願っています．そんな大人の温かいサポートが，若い「ベンキョマン」たちの才能を開花させるのだと私は信じています．

末筆になりましたが，今回の数学オリンピックで入賞されたみなさん，おめでとうございます！

Notes:

  1. 僕の通っていた学校では高校入試がないかわりに，中学から高校に上がる際に卒業論文のようなものを書くことになっていました． ↩
  2. 勉強ができると「普通じゃない」みたいな言われ方をされがちですが，たまたま数学の才能があり，それを伸ばす機会があったことを除いて，普通の高校生でしょう． ↩
  3. もし自分に子どもができたら，こういう集まりに連れて行って一緒に問題を解きたいと思います．それくらい素晴らしい集まりです． ↩
  4. 本当に物事を理解している人は，解答を一般化するのではなく問題自体を一般化できるのだという衝撃もありました． ↩

149 thoughts on “「ベンキョマン」”

  2. There are some interesting cut-off dates in this article however I don抰 know if I see all of them center to heart. There's some validity but I'll take maintain opinion till I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we want more! Added to FeedBurner as nicely

  10. This is the correct blog for anybody who wants to seek out out about this topic. You understand a lot its almost onerous to argue with you (not that I truly would want匟aHa). You definitely put a brand new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Nice stuff, simply nice!

  11. Nice post. I learn one thing more challenging on completely different blogs everyday. It would at all times be stimulating to learn content material from different writers and practice a little bit one thing from their store. I抎 want to make use of some with the content on my weblog whether you don抰 mind. Natually I抣l give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.

  13. That is the suitable blog for anybody who desires to find out about this topic. You understand a lot its nearly arduous to argue with you (not that I really would need匟aHa). You positively put a brand new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!

  14. Oh my goodness! an amazing article dude. Thanks Nonetheless I'm experiencing challenge with ur rss . Don抰 know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting equivalent rss problem? Anyone who knows kindly respond. Thnkx

  15. I used to be very happy to find this web-site.I needed to thanks in your time for this excellent read!! I definitely enjoying each little little bit of it and I've you bookmarked to take a look at new stuff you blog post.

  16. There are certainly plenty of details like that to take into consideration. That is a great point to convey up. I supply the thoughts above as basic inspiration however clearly there are questions like the one you bring up the place the most important thing can be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged around things like that, however I'm positive that your job is clearly identified as a good game. Both boys and girls feel the impact of only a moment抯 pleasure, for the rest of their lives.

  17. This web page is really a stroll-by way of for all the information you wished about this and didn抰 know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you抣l undoubtedly discover it.

  20. I as well as my guys have been digesting the excellent tips located on your web site and the sudden I got a terrible suspicion I never expressed respect to the website owner for those techniques. All the men were thrilled to see all of them and have now definitely been loving them. Appreciation for genuinely very considerate as well as for getting this kind of good ideas millions of individuals are really desperate to know about. My personal sincere apologies for not saying thanks to you earlier.

  22. I'm usually to running a blog and i actually admire your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I'm going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand new information.

  24. Aw, this was a really nice post. In thought I want to put in writing like this moreover ?taking time and actual effort to make a very good article?but what can I say?I procrastinate alot and on no account seem to get something done.

  25. After research just a few of the weblog posts on your web site now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website record and will be checking again soon. Pls take a look at my site as well and let me know what you think.

  26. I抦 impressed, I have to say. Really rarely do I encounter a blog that抯 both educative and entertaining, and let me let you know, you have got hit the nail on the head. Your idea is outstanding; the issue is something that not sufficient people are talking intelligently about. I'm very comfortable that I stumbled throughout this in my search for one thing relating to this.

  27. When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any manner you may take away me from that service? Thanks!

  28. The subsequent time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I imply, I do know it was my choice to learn, however I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you possibly can repair should you werent too busy in search of attention.

  29. That is the correct blog for anyone who desires to search out out about this topic. You realize so much its nearly laborious to argue with you (not that I truly would want匟aHa). You undoubtedly put a brand new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Nice stuff, just nice!

  31. An interesting discussion is price comment. I think that you should write extra on this subject, it may not be a taboo topic but typically people are not sufficient to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers

  35. The following time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I mean, I know it was my option to read, however I really thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could repair if you happen to werent too busy on the lookout for attention.

  37. An attention-grabbing dialogue is value comment. I think that you need to write extra on this subject, it might not be a taboo subject but usually people are not enough to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers

  38. I definitely wanted to make a simple message to be able to express gratitude to you for some of the lovely guidelines you are showing here. My prolonged internet research has finally been paid with awesome strategies to go over with my classmates and friends. I would claim that most of us site visitors actually are quite fortunate to live in a perfect place with many brilliant professionals with interesting guidelines. I feel very privileged to have discovered your entire webpages and look forward to so many more entertaining times reading here. Thanks a lot once again for all the details.

  41. An interesting discussion is price comment. I believe that you should write extra on this topic, it may not be a taboo topic but typically people are not enough to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers

  45. Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read anything like this before. So nice to seek out anyone with some authentic ideas on this subject. realy thank you for starting this up. this website is one thing that is wanted on the internet, someone with just a little originality. useful job for bringing one thing new to the internet!

  47. I抦 impressed, I have to say. Actually not often do I encounter a blog that抯 both educative and entertaining, and let me inform you, you have got hit the nail on the head. Your concept is outstanding; the problem is one thing that not sufficient people are speaking intelligently about. I'm very completely happy that I stumbled throughout this in my seek for something regarding this.

  48. Needed to compose you the little bit of observation to finally thank you so much the moment again with your beautiful methods you have discussed here. This has been so extremely open-handed of you to give easily exactly what a number of people might have offered as an electronic book to get some profit for their own end, precisely since you could have tried it in case you wanted. The tips in addition acted to become good way to be sure that someone else have the same keenness similar to my very own to figure out a good deal more around this matter. I'm sure there are millions of more fun occasions ahead for people who look into your website.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.