Apparently it is our fault that the economy is such rubbish because we can’t add up

GrannyGravy13

There seems to be a badge of pride to be rubbish at maths.

I welcome any initiative to increase the numeracy of the nation.

From what I heard on Breakfast News, The PM hasn’t blamed the Country’s woes on the standard of numeracy, he did say that improving numeracy could only be beneficial, totally different.

The sneering I heard on various radio stations was so childish. Presenters and commentators were falling over themselves to say how rubbish they were at maths and how much they hated the subject. If this is what children are hearing from their parents too no wonder they disengage from the subject at a young age. Children need encouragement. Maths are useful all through life, from working out your taxes to dressmaking etc etc Knowledge is no load to carry whatever the subject.

I didn’t understand maths until I had to teach it!! Then it made more sense!
I am anti Tory by the way 🤣

For those with dyscalculia, the comments than anyone can be good at maths if they had a good teacher is hurtful.
Maths describes how the universe works.
Yet another wonderful fact.
There I was, thinking that it was science that describes how the universe works.
Ho hum🥱

There I was, thinking that it was science that describes how the universe works.

"Mathematics has been the language of science for thousands of years, and it is remarkably successful."
www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126951-800-mathematics-the-only-true-universal-language/

“Mathematics is the language in which God has written the universe” Galileo

Who could be right? Galileo or Mollygo? Let me think...

Mathematics is fascinating but not everyone needs to know about advanced mathematics.

We all need to know about how to apply mathematics to every day life because we all use it constantly, even if we think we don't and think we don't understand it.
Perhaps the teaching of it is boring?

Some people do have dyscalculia just as some people have dyslexia but most people do understand basic numeracy even if they claim otherwise.

volver3

^There I was, thinking that it was science that describes how the universe works.^

"Mathematics has been the language of science for thousands of years, and it is remarkably successful."
www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126951-800-mathematics-the-only-true-universal-language/

“Mathematics is the language in which God has written the universe” Galileo

Who could be right? Galileo or Mollygo? Let me think...

V3✂️✂️✂️

Callistemon21

Mathematics is fascinating but not everyone needs to know about advanced mathematics.

We all need to know about how to apply mathematics to every day life because we all use it constantly, even if we think we don't and think we don't understand it.
Perhaps the teaching of it is boring?

Some people do have dyscalculia just as some people have dyslexia but most people do understand basic numeracy even if they claim otherwise.

It depends what you mean by "basic numeracy". It was highlighted during the pandemic that many people really don't understand basic statistics. They don't understand figures about inflation either.

Mollygo

For those with dyscalculia, the comments than anyone can be good at maths if they had a good teacher is hurtful.
Maths describes how the universe works.
Yet another wonderful fact.
There I was, thinking that it was science that describes how the universe works.
Ho hum🥱

So what kind of percentage of people have genuine dyscalculia?

growstuff

Mollygo

For those with dyscalculia, the comments than anyone can be good at maths if they had a good teacher is hurtful.
Maths describes how the universe works.
Yet another wonderful fact.
There I was, thinking that it was science that describes how the universe works.
Ho hum🥱

So what kind of percentage of people have genuine dyscalculia?

A quick Google gives figures of 3-6% of U.K. population has dyscalculia

Dear volver3
Like Anniel, I am delighted to find something on which we can wholeheartedly agree. Glè mhath! Huzzah!

Now, as our forebears did at Ploegsteert on 25th December 1914 as darkness fell on the Western Front of World War 1, it's back to the trenches.

[It was there, on Christmas Day, that the Scottish soldiers of 2nd Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders played football with their opposing German troops of 134th Royal Saxon Regt. Apparently, the Germans won 3-2.]

GrannyGravy13

growstuff

Mollygo

For those with dyscalculia, the comments than anyone can be good at maths if they had a good teacher is hurtful.
Maths describes how the universe works.
Yet another wonderful fact.
There I was, thinking that it was science that describes how the universe works.
Ho hum🥱

So what kind of percentage of people have genuine dyscalculia?

A quick Google gives figures of 3-6% of U.K. population has dyscalculia

Thanks, GG13. I assume that's reliable, although I haven't looked. It's not very many. Far more people than that claim to be bad at maths.

Labour didn't do that much of a good job last time, either. They left no money in the coffers at their own admission. The country must have agreed at the time as they ot voted out. Let's see if they can do any better from mid 2024 onwards. I doubt it. Both parties are much of a muchness.

Aged 6 crying my eyes out locked in classroom trying to to do a subtraction sum and hit on the hand hard with a ruler, my twin trying to rescue me rattling furiously at the door..never could do maths but quite able to recognise absurd and dangerous loan shark offers and APR offers and not touch with a barge pole...

Genuine dyscalculia? Genuine Dyslexia? Genuine ASC?
Currently, figures say 1 in 20 people has dyscalculia.
Do you mean diagnosed dyscalculia or would you dismiss anyone whose struggles with number went undiagnosed and therefore unrecorded.
According to reports (which may or may not be true), it was discovered in 1919 that even persons of superior intelligence could have it, though it wasn’t called that.
Others rely on the rely on a 1940 diagnosis.
When I started teaching, the word dyscalculia was not mentioned as a reason for giving children who struggled with maths, extra help.
Maybe some older teachers/parents know differently.
Perhaps if people admitted to number blindness instead of saying they were rubbish at maths . . .
I’ve read, even on GN about the number of people now who feel better after having had late diagnosis ASC or late diagnosis dyslexia. For those who feel they are ‘rubbish at maths’ maybe a late diagnosis will help.

Numeracy is very important for all of us and I think all students should leave school with the maths ability to be able to understand the basics they will need to run their lives. But what are they going to be studying up to age 18? If it's anything like A-level then what use is calculus, probability, statistics, geometry going to mean to the majority of students who aren't going on to study some sort of maths at university. I think it's just a nonsense, the govt aren't able to end the teachers strike so how will they manage to pile even more work on to them?

Probability? What is the chance that you will get a severe dose of COVID and does taking the vaccine present a much smaller risk of illness?

Statistics? How big is the impact of immigration in this country really?

Geometry? How much plastic grass do I need?

I'm working on calculus. I'll see if I can some up with anything.....

Regarding the political nature of most of the Gransnet postings and the inexorable perfection of the labour party maths, being better than that of the conservative party, does no one remember, conveniently, that the note left for the conservative party, on taking over from labour in 2010, if I remember correctly, stated that the Coffers were empty.
How about that then?

usuallyright

Regarding the political nature of most of the Gransnet postings and the inexorable perfection of the labour party maths, being better than that of the conservative party, does no one remember, conveniently, that the note left for the conservative party, on taking over from labour in 2010, if I remember correctly, stated that the Coffers were empty.
How about that then?

Eh? What's that got to do with people's maths ability?

Sounds like the kind of thing a two year old would say!

usuallyright

Regarding the political nature of most of the Gransnet postings and the inexorable perfection of the labour party maths, being better than that of the conservative party, does no one remember, conveniently, that the note left for the conservative party, on taking over from labour in 2010, if I remember correctly, stated that the Coffers were empty.
How about that then?

It was an old joke, Used before by outgoing ministers at a change of administration.

It's been debunked so many times before that I'm surprised that anyone even brings it up on this forum.

We can't run out of money; our national finances don't work like that.

volver I would add to statistics - If the rate of inflation is 10% (19% for the poorest) and people are given a retrospective 5% pay rise, while the rate of inflation is reduced by 50%, how much better/worse off will people be after a year?

Explain why there is poverty when the average income is above the official poverty line. What does average mean?

knspol

Numeracy is very important for all of us and I think all students should leave school with the maths ability to be able to understand the basics they will need to run their lives. But what are they going to be studying up to age 18? If it's anything like A-level then what use is calculus, probability, statistics, geometry going to mean to the majority of students who aren't going on to study some sort of maths at university. I think it's just a nonsense, the govt aren't able to end the teachers strike so how will they manage to pile even more work on to them?

Did Sunak mention calculus?

I agree with volver. Understanding probability and basic statistic are life skills.

Mollygo According to these statistics, between 94-97% of people do not have dyscalculia. However, far more people than that claim to be bad at maths. What's the reason for that?

Maths isn't an "add on" in today's world. It's essential for understanding the world around us.

Nan0

Aged 6 crying my eyes out locked in classroom trying to to do a subtraction sum and hit on the hand hard with a ruler, my twin trying to rescue me rattling furiously at the door..never could do maths but quite able to recognise absurd and dangerous loan shark offers and APR offers and not touch with a barge pole...

So you could do maths! It was the fault of the teaching and the psychological effect it had on you which held you back - not the nature of the subject.

Growstuff engineers need to know how to use calculus. This country needs engineers. I don’t think Sunak mentioned it. Engineers are really smart!