dispatches programme on schools

[lslowry]

Did anyone see the programme last night on the teaching of maths in schools. The test put to the teachers looked quite easy, but only one out of about 150 got them all right, and most of them got only 40%. It shows the state of our education system when even the teachers want teaching

[Ankou]

but its a bit like watching weakest link or millionaire isnit. its always easier when watching from the sofa.

i work in numbers as a professional, and some of my nieces stuff baffles me sometimes. getting 100% in any test is questionable.

[lslowry]

ankou, i'm no academic but to get 2x5 -4 and come up with 2. I fear for the future of education. What was wrong with learning by rote?

[Ankou]

well if there are no brackets then its an easy mistaka to maka.

5-4 = 1
1 x 2 = 2

!!!

[lslowry]

you've got to be a teacher!

[sddsddean]

If there are no brackets, x takes precedence over -, therefore its 10-4 =6

[factor-fiction]

Yep, BIDMAS sets out the rules for the order of operations but it is a rule that one either knows or one doesn't- it's not 'obvious' and it's not something that normally comes up in practical applications of maths. Personally I would prefer brackets to be used to avoid potential ambiguity.
But I am not defending the teachers- on the whole I agree that too many primary school teachers don't have an adequate grasp of mathematics (or English for that matter).Parents have a role too though- in my experience too many parents say with pride that they were also 'rubbish at maths' and help kids believe that maths is horrible. And let's face it- the average adult would have scored less than the teachers did- as I think we'll see on part 2 next week.

[Seadragon]

I didn't see this on telly but read about it in the paper - and I failed the maths question! Oh so embarrassing, I hang my head in shame. Maths was never my strong point but to get a simple question wrong! You're right sdds - multiplication does take precedence. I'm trying to teach my kids the times table, I tell them that once they have learnt that off by heart, immediately answering any question thrown at them, then they have cracked maths. (or that's what I figure)