We are having a discussion about compulsory maths on M208. Here is one of my posts...
Numeracy is obviously important, you should have to keep doing it until you reach a certain level. Rather like a driving exam.
But how useful is maths? I suppose that the standard reply would be that it promotes logical, rigorous reasoning. In certain contexts. But real maths?Some of us can do it, some of us can't; making it compulsory? Why not make history compulsory?
History I hear you scream! But think, the ability to read several accounts of the same event by different people, sift the truth and craft a coherent narrative. That ain't no small skill.
My point is that most subjects could make an argument for being vital at developing a certain type of skill. I would suggest that it rather depends on the child. If you can get a child enthused about any subject at eighteen then I think that you've probably done a good job of educating them.
Too often I hear that our schools are failing, in what way? Usually if you ask the question, after some waffle, you'll get, "children lack basic literacy and numeracy skills". At which point I suggest that for some children it makes little sense to acquire them: strive how they will there won't be a job for them. If you are poor you won't be getting a degree, and even if you do you won't have the contacts to get the job.
There's no incentive for a whole swathe of children to learn anything. Unless you tackle that problem there's little point in bandying around the word compulsion. You can't legislate knowledge.
compulsory mathematics
We are having a discussion about compulsory maths on M208. Here is one of my posts...
Numeracy is obviously important, you should have to keep doing it until you reach a certain level. Rather like a driving exam.
But how useful is maths? I suppose that the standard reply would be that it promotes logical, rigorous reasoning. In certain contexts. But real maths? Some of us can do it, some of us can't; making it compulsory? Why not make history compulsory?
History I hear you scream! But think, the ability to read several accounts of the same event by different people, sift the truth and craft a coherent narrative. That ain't no small skill.
My point is that most subjects could make an argument for being vital at developing a certain type of skill. I would suggest that it rather depends on the child. If you can get a child enthused about any subject at eighteen then I think that you've probably done a good job of educating them.
Too often I hear that our schools are failing, in what way? Usually if you ask the question, after some waffle, you'll get, "children lack basic literacy and numeracy skills". At which point I suggest that for some children it makes little sense to acquire them: strive how they will there won't be a job for them. If you are poor you won't be getting a degree, and even if you do you won't have the contacts to get the job.
There's no incentive for a whole swathe of children to learn anything. Unless you tackle that problem there's little point in bandying around the word compulsion. You can't legislate knowledge.