Michael Gove being idiotic on maths education...

[LeftishBrit]

Apologies for linking to the Hate-Mail, but they seem to give the most detailed account of his speech to the Royal Society:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2009463/Gove-How-Asia-teach-lesson-maths-studied-day.html

Maths teaching in schools should be overhauled, with the introduction of Asian-style daily teaching and a focus on fundamentals, the Education Secretary has suggested...

He suggested daily maths lessons and regular tests are to be adopted, inspired by the system in Singapore, with the possible return of ‘numeracy hour’ – a Labour initiative scrapped two years ago.

Under his proposals, lessons for primary school children are to focus on fractions and the building blocks of algebra.

And those in secondary school will study advanced calculus and statistics – currently the preserve of A-level students.


Etc., etc.

Firstly, most schools as far as I can see DO have a daily maths lesson. Secondly, haven't we learned from experience with the Major and Blair governments that constant testing does *not* have all the positive effects that some would claim? Thirdly, I know teachers and educationists from the Far East, and not everything is seen as rosy there. Kids *do* achieve highly in maths, but this is as much due to a cultural emphasis on the subject and lots of time spent on it out of school as well as in it, as to any specific aspect of teaching methods. Finnish pupils also do very well in maths, and their educational system is very different.

As regards specific content: just saying that primary school kids should be learning fractions and the 'building blocks' of algebra, and that young secondary school pupils should be doing calculus, doesn't mean they're going to be able to do these topics. Either the subjects will be so watered down that they mean little, or even more pupils will find maths bewildering and switch off than do so at present. And is it really so important that all children should learn calculus? Not saying there's anything wrong with doing so if you want to and are up to it; but all I can say is that I did maths A level, did therefore study calculus, have worked much of my life in areas that require some degree of numeracy in general and statistics in particular - and have never had to do any calculus. I'm afraid that I've forgotten almost all the calculus that I learned.

I also note that maths is to be compulsory to 18 - again, a nice idea on paper, but young people who hate or can't do maths at 16 are not necessarily going to become good at it just by being forced to keep at it. When the school leaving age is raised to 18, then unless matters are given considerable thought and resources, it will serve the purpose of lowering the unemployment statistics, but may not do much for pupils' real education, and (especially if pupils are not given much choice of subjects) increase discipline problems for secondary teachers.

At least King Canute finally accepted that he was not lord of the wind and waves. Education secretaries too frequently do not learn this lesson, and keep on with the attitude that just because they give an edict that everyone must learn X, everyone will instantly be able and willing to learn X. If it was that simple, pupils would already have learned all these things; it's not as if Gove is the first person to wish to improve maths standards.

[non sociopath skin]

1. I can understand why Secretaries of State are afraid to listen to teachers ...

... but not why they're afraid to listen to psychologists and neurologists.

We now know huge amounts about how people learn but politicians continue to think that if you do the same thing over and over, you'll eventually get different results.

The Skin

[oldironside]

2. They were probably impressed...

... by the story of Robert the Bruce and the spider when they were young.