Why?

[des8]

All children in England will be expected to know up to their 12 times table when they leave primary school, the government has announced.
Can someone please explain why the government for England thinks there is something special in being able to recite the 12 times table?
When we used £.s.d and imperial systems of measurement, yep 12 was important. Has she not heard the UK operates metric systems now?
For all the use of the 12 times table she might as well plumped for 15 times table.

[Nibbler]

Re: Why?

Because the tories are trapped in the past, and if they had do such a thing they think the next generation should suffer something so pointless as well.

[Kati]

Re: Why?

I know of quite a few children who left primary school without being able to read and write (let alone spellings and grammar)...

Many children cannot tell the time on an analogue clock...

Maybe it would be better to actually teach our school children instead of the government spouting this c**p. It'd be laughable if it wasn't so disgraceful

[MissFM]

Re: Why?

Sorry to introduce a note of dissent but I can see the point of this (which is more than I can say for the metric system). Times tables are incredibly useful for all sorts of things and most measurements based on the human scale work on "12's" rather than "10's". Not only that, but numbers have a pattern and a rhythm that is frankly beautiful.:nerd:Learning by rote is not dissimilar to learning scales on the piano - it gives access to the underlying structure and becomes effortless.

The measurement of time, as said above, still uses 12 despite all efforts to change it.

Other cultures, for example, when they count on their fingers, count to twelve and multiples thereof using the finger joints (three per finger)...there's lots of other things about numbers that are perfect and elegant and hidden in the nature of our existence.

Just saying ...:o x

[wales01man]

Re: Why?

You can teach children what you want whether they learn anything is the problem?

I think we will all agree we are all still learning it never stops.

[Fred]

Re: Why?

Global systems are more united or of a standard metric than ever now................however it is our American cousins who still use "imperial" to which I know few who will tolerate or even begin to understand even though it is relatively easy.

Most however given 160 kilo metres ask, "how many miles is that then"

What a world !

[MissFM]

Re: Why?

You can teach children what you want whether they learn anything is the problem?

I think we will all agree we are all still learning it never stops.

"A fire to be lit not a vessel to be filled" ?

[Kati]

Re: Why?

I do agree MissFM (up to a point ) I just believe that the education system has to do a lot more than ensure our children know their 12x table ...

My eldest son (14) was reading Harry Potter books at the age of 5, when he started school he was told "you can't be reading that ... you don't understand it" he wasn't allowed to 'progress' at his own speed because the teacher didn't believe he was clever enough. I can remember going into the school once - he was about 6 at the time - and complaining to the headmaster that they were holding him back!
My younger son (13) was left to his own devices by the teachers and still had trouble reading at the age of 10. He was fine at home (where we supported his attempts and made him wear his glasses) but he'd get shouted at when struggling at school. He still panics when he has to read something now

[MissFM]

Re: Why?

Yes, goodness knows what nonsense is indoctrinated into teachers at their training colleges. It's certainly a help when you find the odd one that actually likes children (and has enthusiasm for their subject..) :behindsofa:.

[Fred]

Re: Why?

Its like being left handed..........when you should be right...."right".................................. ............"grrrrr"