Times Tables 'must Be Memorised By Age 11'

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-35216318

I was 11 in 1964 and before I went to the Secondary School, I already
knew my tables. What has happened in the last 50 years that only now is the Education Secretary realising that some kids don't ?

If these kids have been in school since the age of 5, why do they not know their tables ?

[jim360]

Thanks pixie -- I thought the answer was probably yes, which again serves to illustrate my point that this is an annoyingly misleading headline.

[Jackdaw33]

I remember a lecturer telling me, very much against the spirit of the times, "Learn first, understand later".

[bhg481]

Mikey - boaties example doesn't use tables and it's learning tables we're debating here.

[ichkeria]

Still learned at our school too, and recited after the hymn of thanks to Lenin :-)

[pixie374]

I can't think how else they would be taught. The main difference nowadays I think, is that schools are accountable now and need to prove they've done their job. The number of people who used to leave school without the basics of literacy and arithmetic, is quite shocking. It's about time that was stopped.

[RATTER15]

I am dyslexic and dyscalculic, I learned to recite my table before going to secondary school, however I could not and still cant apply to everyday mathematics.

Waterboatman said "I was in a shop buying a couple of bits. One at £1.50, one at £2 and one at £5.50. The lass behind the counter got a calculator out to add that."

I would have had to do the same, I could add them together without too much problem if I had the figures in front of me in order, but I could not add them in my head as it is too many figures to mentally assemble.

I have been thought of as thick,stupid etc. many times.

[jim360]

Well, for starters, I can't quite understand what the obsession with 12*12 is (unless it's because of inches in feet? But we don't use inches any more...). It's enough to stop at 10*10 and then note that 11*12 = 10*10+1*2 + 1*10+10*2.

[ichkeria]

It won't stop because of a few tests. Some people are simply incapable of learning by rote. As I said above we have more tests it seems than ever and yet it doesn't appear to help raise standards. The only public text I ever did at primary school was the 11 plus

[pixie374]

Thankfully, dyslexia and dyscalculia are much more recognised and helped now. Being thought of as "stupid", is their ignorance. Not yours.

[jim360]

I'm still waiting for George Osborne to tell us what 7*8 is, mind.

[EDDIE51]

^^Have to agree with jim360, I left school in 1968 before there were even basic calculators , so it was essential to have a grasp of mental arithmetic.
I can still do even quite complex calculations in my head. Now with calculators universally available ( Kids all seem to have mobile phones from age 6 and they all have calculators. I even got a calculator in a Christmas cracker) it is just not necessary. You need to know how to do the calculations but a calculator does the hard work.
Years ago I read a science fiction story where for some reason all calculators and computers suddenly stopped working. The world seemed doomed until someone found a way to work thing out 'the old way'
I do occasionally wonder what would happen if that situation actually occurred.

[RATTER15]

I agree Pixie, unfortunately many still dont accept that it exists and I have been told on here on AB that it doesn't, and it just an excuse for lack of education.

There is still a long way to go unfortunately.

[pixie374]

Yes, but it's their education that is lacking there. Hopefully that will change, it already is starting to

[mikey4444]

NIce to hear from you ratter...you have been a bit quiet lately !

[RATTER15]

Lets hope so Pixie, 1 in 10 people across the world are dyslexic to some degree, many dont even know themselves!

[RATTER15]

Thanks Mikey, I think I post on here most days, a bit less than I used to maybe, been a bit busy since moving but I still keep an eye on you all :-)

[Jackdaw33]

Up to 12x was important pre-decimal currency.

[jim360]

Yeah, well, we have decimal currency now.

[Zacs-Master]

I'm 53 and never learnt my times tables. Never did me any harm.

[piggynose]

i knew my timestables at the age of 5, no genius, just good parenting, mind you my mom loved maths.