Evolution of British Mathematics Teaching


1. Teaching Mathematics In 1970
A logger sells a lorry load of timber for £100.
His cost of production is 4/5 of the price.
What is his profit?

2. Teaching Mathematics In 1980
A logger sells a lorry load of timber for £100.
His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or £80.
What is his profit?

3. Teaching Mathematics In 1990
A logger sells a lorry load of timber for £100.
His cost of production is £80.
Did he make a profit?

4. Teaching Mathematics In 2000
A logger sells a lorry load of timber for £100.
His cost of production is £80 and his profit is £20.

Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

5. Teaching Mathematics In 2008
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and
inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals nor for the
preservation of our woodlands.

He does this so he can make a profit of £20.
What do you think of this way of making a living?
Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the
birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There
are no wrong answers. ):-(

Mike

--
www.rneba.org.uk. The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association.
'THE' Association to find your ex-Greenie mess mates.

"'Mike'" wrote in message
...

Evolution of British Mathematics Teaching


1. Teaching Mathematics In 1970
A logger sells a lorry load of timber for £100.
His cost of production is 4/5 of the price.
What is his profit?

2. Teaching Mathematics In 1980
A logger sells a lorry load of timber for £100.
His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or £80.
What is his profit?

3. Teaching Mathematics In 1990
A logger sells a lorry load of timber for £100.
His cost of production is £80.
Did he make a profit?

4. Teaching Mathematics In 2000
A logger sells a lorry load of timber for £100.
His cost of production is £80 and his profit is £20.

Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

5. Teaching Mathematics In 2008
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and
inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals nor for the
preservation of our woodlands.

He does this so he can make a profit of £20.
What do you think of this way of making a living?
Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the
birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There
are no wrong answers. ):-(

Mike

--
www.rneba.org.uk. The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association.
'THE' Association to find your ex-Greenie mess mates.

I expect they were cut up about it ....... do you feel better now lol

"Robert (Plymouth)" writes


I expect they were cut up about it ....... do you feel better now lol

Did you *have* to post the whole lot just to add one line? Those who
wanted to read it would have done so the first time.


--
Kay

"K" wrote in message
...
"Robert (Plymouth)" writes


I expect they were cut up about it ....... do you feel better now lol

Did you *have* to post the whole lot just to add one line? Those who
wanted to read it would have done so the first time.


--
Kay

Yes I did, thanks for asking though

"'Mike'" wrote in message
...


When you say "Wonderful example of ..." does this mean that everything you
say is a total invention?

"'Mike'" wrote:


Evolution of British Mathematics Teaching


1. Teaching Mathematics In 1970
A logger sells a lorry load of timber for £100.
His cost of production is 4/5 of the price.
What is his profit?
[...]
5. Teaching Mathematics In 2008
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and
inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals nor for the
preservation of our woodlands.

He does this so he can make a profit of £20.
What do you think of this way of making a living?
Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the
birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There
are no wrong answers. ):-(

You learned what you needed to know to be functional in your world, the
young now learn what they need to be functional in theirs, because it's
no longer your world (or mine). Best, in my view, to spend the remaining
time enjoying what you find good rather than grumbling about what you
probably don't even comprehend.

"brian mitchell" wrote in message
...
"'Mike'" wrote:


Evolution of British Mathematics Teaching


1. Teaching Mathematics In 1970
A logger sells a lorry load of timber for £100.
His cost of production is 4/5 of the price.
What is his profit?
[...]
5. Teaching Mathematics In 2008
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and
inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals nor for the
preservation of our woodlands.

He does this so he can make a profit of £20.
What do you think of this way of making a living?
Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the
birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There
are no wrong answers. ):-(

You learned what you needed to know to be functional in your world, the
young now learn what they need to be functional in theirs, because it's
no longer your world (or mine). Best, in my view, to spend the remaining
time enjoying what you find good rather than grumbling about what you
probably don't even comprehend.


And the "Mathematics"? ;-(



--
www.rneba.org.uk. The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association.
'THE' Association to find your ex-Greenie mess mates.

"'Mike'" wrote in message
...



And the "Mathematics"? ;-(


The preceding article is a piece of fiction - made up for propaganda
purposes and to dupe the gullilble

"OG" wrote in message
...

"'Mike'" wrote in message
...



And the "Mathematics"? ;-(


The preceding article is a piece of fiction - made up for propaganda
purposes and to dupe the gullilble


Oh I see, you don't think the standard of Mathematics has gone down over the
years?

I do

Mike


--
www.rneba.org.uk. The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association.
'THE' Association to find your ex-Greenie mess mates.

On Apr 19, 10:18*am, "'Mike'" wrote:
"OG" wrote in message

...



"'Mike'" wrote in message
...

And the "Mathematics"? ;-(

The preceding article is a piece of fiction - made up for propaganda
purposes and to dupe the gullilble

Oh I see, you don't think the standard of Mathematics has gone down over the
years?

I do


You used a completely fictional over the top example to try to prove a
point about what you think is the standard of mathematics in education
while simultaneously taking a snide cheap shop at what you believe to
be the effects of political correctness. What you describe as
mathematics is actually arithmetic.
The world has changed. In my day, tables were drilled into us. It
was tedious (and enforced by physical violence) but neccessary to
survive. These days, people do not give the same priority to such
skills. Such is life. The MATHS. syllabus has actually broadenened
since your day and the maths that people do in school is probably now
more interesting ironically. I also had Latin drilled into me. It
is useful for party pieces and once a year where you can be smart
about the origin of some word on a menu in a restaurant.

As for political correctness, give me Joe Brand and tampon jokes over
what passed for comedy on Bristish TV in the early 70s (Irish jokes or
jokes about paki bashing) any day

Des




Mike

--www.rneba.org.uk. The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association.
'THE' Association to find your ex-Greenie mess mates.

brian mitchell writes
"'Mike'" wrote:


Evolution of British Mathematics Teaching


You learned what you needed to know to be functional in your world, the
young now learn what they need to be functional in theirs, because it's
no longer your world (or mine). Best, in my view, to spend the remaining
time enjoying what you find good rather than grumbling about what you
probably don't even comprehend.

A far greater proportion of the population and ability range are
expected to pass GCSE maths compared with O level. This is not 'dumbing
down', it is trying to increase the level of numeracy across the
population as a whole (why is it that people are ashamed to be
illiterate, but so many people have no shame whatever - even a little
pride - in being innumerate?)

Despite this, GCSE covers some concepts that weren't covered till a lot
later in 1970. But then, today's children do not have to spend ages
learning how to use tables of logarithms without understanding the
underlying principle of the logarithmic transformation or its
relationship to the natural world, not do they have to do basic
arithmetic in mixed bases, again without being given any understanding
of the concept.
--
Kay

"Des Higgins" wrote in message
...
On Apr 19, 10:18 am, "'Mike'" wrote:
"OG" wrote in message

...



"'Mike'" wrote in message
...

And the "Mathematics"? ;-(

The preceding article is a piece of fiction - made up for propaganda
purposes and to dupe the gullilble

Oh I see, you don't think the standard of Mathematics has gone down over
the
years?

I do


You used a completely fictional over the top example to try to prove a
point about what you think is the standard of mathematics in education
while simultaneously taking a snide cheap shop at what you believe to
be the effects of political correctness. What you describe as
mathematics is actually arithmetic.
The world has changed. In my day, tables were drilled into us. It
was tedious (and enforced by physical violence) but neccessary to
survive. These days, people do not give the same priority to such
skills. Such is life. The MATHS. syllabus has actually broadenened
since your day and the maths that people do in school is probably now
more interesting ironically. I also had Latin drilled into me. It
is useful for party pieces and once a year where you can be smart
about the origin of some word on a menu in a restaurant.

As for political correctness, give me Joe Brand and tampon jokes over
what passed for comedy on Bristish TV in the early 70s (Irish jokes or
jokes about paki bashing) any day

Des




OK, so you missed the point

Never mind

Mike


--
www.rneba.org.uk. The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association.
'THE' Association to find your ex-Greenie mess mates.

On Apr 19, 12:08*pm, "'Mike'" wrote:
"Des Higgins" wrote in message

...
On Apr 19, 10:18 am, "'Mike'" wrote:





"OG" wrote in message

...

"'Mike'" wrote in message
...

And the "Mathematics"? ;-(

The preceding article is a piece of fiction - made up for propaganda
purposes and to dupe the gullilble

Oh I see, you don't think the standard of Mathematics has gone down over
the
years?

I do

You used a completely fictional over the top example to try to prove a
point about what you think is the standard of mathematics in education
while simultaneously taking a snide cheap shop at what you believe to
be the effects of political correctness. *What you describe as
mathematics is actually arithmetic.
The world has changed. *In my day, tables were drilled into us. *It
was tedious (and enforced by physical violence) but neccessary to
survive. *These days, people do not give the same priority to such
skills. *Such is life. *The MATHS. syllabus has actually broadenened
since your day and the maths that people do in school is probably now
more interesting ironically. * I also had Latin drilled into me. *It
is useful for party pieces and once a year where you can be smart
about the origin of some word on a menu in a restaurant.

As for political correctness, give me Joe Brand and tampon jokes over
what passed for comedy on Bristish TV in the early 70s (Irish jokes or
jokes about paki bashing) any day

Des

OK, so you missed the point


And you simply ignored mine; I not only got your point; I even got
the point you probably were trying to make but were unable to.

Des


Never mind

Mike

--www.rneba.org.uk. The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association.
'THE' Association to find your ex-Greenie mess mates.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

"Anne Jackson" wrote in message
...
The message from "OG" contains these words:
"'Mike'" attempted to enlighten us with:

And the "Mathematics"? ;-(

The preceding article is a piece of fiction - made up
for propaganda purposes and to dupe the gullible

That's what happens when a stupid person tries to be smart... ;-)

--
AnneJ



Yes Anne, you missed the point as well :-(

Never mind

Mike


--
www.rneba.org.uk. The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association.
'THE' Association to find your ex-Greenie mess mates.

On Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:44:43 +0100, Anne Jackson
wrote:

The message from "OG" contains these words:
"'Mike'" attempted to enlighten us with:

And the "Mathematics"? ;-(

The preceding article is a piece of fiction - made up
for propaganda purposes and to dupe the gullible

That's what happens when a stupid person tries to be smart... ;-)

Stupid yes and nothing whatever to do with gardening, but it has been
several weeks since he succeeded in starting an argument and he
obviously thought he was due for one.
We need an FAQ for newcomers to advise them not to deal with this
verminous old fool.