Maths Is Overrated!

[Drusilla]

Why is Maths accepted as holding a pre-eminent place in the education of our children?
I accept the 4 rules of number; addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are important and children need to be able to perform them on paper, with a calculator and in mental arithmetic, but I'm not convinced Maths is important for most of us beyond this.
Maths has always seemed like an imposter to me; like the school bully pushing his way to the front of the dinner queue, his behaviour ignored by staff because he is too belligerent to bother with and accepted by other pupils because he has tough mates watching his back.
I'm not suggesting Maths shouldn't be taught, but I would really like to know when it gained a pre-eminent position in education and why people have accepted this without question for so long?

[mimififi]

I, perhaps, was merely being petulant by bringing SuDoku into the 'equation' because actually you don't need to be able to count at all, you only need to be able to differentiate the differences between nine different symbols. I have seen a SuDoku done with nine different pictures of Gerbils!

I was pointing out that maths and logical thinking do somewhat go hand in hand and things like logical puzzles are used in teaching math(s) in schools today. They both utilise the same part/side of the brain.

I know you are a humanities major, ShaneyStar, and we have enjoyed many a literary convo, including one about libraries, I did not mean any offence with my comments. I was merely pointing out that as a person who does not enjoy math(s) you had the freedom to drop it. However, if a Math(s) was not taught as a priority subject on the timetable, then children who did not want to drop it, but would want to take math(s) to a much higher level or want to overlap it into other subjects would be disadavantaged by leaving all the learning until they are are KS4. Children who want to major in humanity subjects would be able to pick it up so quickly because language and the arts are much more embedded into the fabric of our lives. Math(s) theory has to be taught and learned.

And also, you say you have got to the young age of 58 without using algebraic equations, or math(s) outside of the four operators, but the truth is, you will have used those math(s) concepts, you just don't know that you have.

[shaneystar2]

Mimi..I don't know where you get the idea I am a humanities major ! An American term I believe ..it would be graduate here anyway.

We didn't do humanities at Fort Pitt in the sixties and I was forced to do dreaded maths whether I liked it or not ,right up until I waved goodbye and threw my hat into the Medway in 1966.We were given no freedom whatsoever to "drop" subjects... although we did have more lessons on the G.C.E's we were taking. I did not take maths .Ha Ha !
This is where today children lose out because they are allowed to drop stuff they are not interested in asap. and only concentrate on what they want to study.A good idea in principle but not so good when they can quote whole pages on some ancient mathematical theorem but cannot write and spell correctly.And by the look of some of the illiteracy on here I don't think I am far wrong !

[PhilBy]

shaneystar2, I think the point being made is that whilst you personally have got to your age with no need for maths you certainly have had the advantage of it's uses. I'm not academic at all but I can see the need for maths, surely if maths wasn't taught at school then we wouldn't have the technology we all have today?

[Loosehead]

Better not get a lot of you lot to work out my yankee then eh?

[shaneystar2]

Very true philby and I am forever grateful to people who have used their mathematical genius to good advantage and provided us with this technology. Nowhere in any of my posts have I said "I do not see the need for maths "or that I have got to this age " with no need for maths" or that maths should not be taught.The maths which I did learn at school have stood me in good stead for what I need to know and do in everyday life.

[Loosehead]

For US: a yankee is a combination 11 bets on four horses: 1-4 fold, 6-doubles and 4 trebles.

[shaneystar2]

Ha Ha.. Loosehead ..I would lose you loads on the gee gees and I would probably get you lost whilst giving directions to the racecourse or betting shop !!

[mimififi]

I never knew maths was such an emotive subject.

Thanks for the debate Drusilla, it's been very interesting.........

:-)

[Drusilla]

Have to admit mimififi, I expected this question to get very few answers and have been pleasantly surprised by the responses, not just the quantity, but the pleasant banter between people who may disagree on the issue. Thanks everyone!