Maths?

I think school method of teaching - inspires a few likewise puts off learning for a similar number and others get by

Maths & Science seemed my go to subjects in secondary school in the 80s. But school didn't inspire me, although I had one teacher who taught Geometric & Engineering Drawing (old fashioned as it was then on drawing board - aka drafting table) .  I think that just latched into my visual thinking and so I left at 16  and got an apprentice job in an engineers office, and studied part-time whilst working and switched to a full-time Masters Degree.  

But that was me and my spiky profile which meant english, arts, languages I found difficult, or as school put it on all my reports for 5 years "lacks effort","lacks concentration/focus","easily distracted", or that my attitude of excelling at certain subjects early on was "narrow minded" - gosh would teachers (form tutor, head of year and headmaster) write this stuff now or think  what's going on ?  I don't know

We should try to show useful maths -  where you can use it in life, like budgets/finances, running a business or understanding business, there's a million more reasons I expect.  And show that learning is life-long

Sorry for the ramble.

I think school method of teaching - inspires a few likewise puts off learning for a similar number and others get by

Maths & Science seemed my go to subjects in secondary school in the 80s. But school didn't inspire me, although I had one teacher who taught Geometric & Engineering Drawing (old fashioned as it was then on drawing board - aka drafting table) .  I think that just latched into my visual thinking and so I left at 16  and got an apprentice job in an engineers office, and studied part-time whilst working and switched to a full-time Masters Degree.  

But that was me and my spiky profile which meant english, arts, languages I found difficult, or as school put it on all my reports for 5 years "lacks effort","lacks concentration/focus","easily distracted", or that my attitude of excelling at certain subjects early on was "narrow minded" - gosh would teachers (form tutor, head of year and headmaster) write this stuff now or think  what's going on ?  I don't know

We should try to show useful maths -  where you can use it in life, like budgets/finances, running a business or understanding business, there's a million more reasons I expect.  And show that learning is life-long

Sorry for the ramble.

I fully agree that learning is for life. 

I failed maths and most subjects at school because ‘I lacked effort, concentration, focus and so on’. School report were littered with comments such as ‘could do better’, ‘if she would apply herself …’ ‘lazy’, ‘capable but won’t apply herself’. Autism wasn’t recognised when I was at school and looking back I can see that my difficulties were due to being autistic and not understanding what was required of me. 

i returned to study later in life and passed GCSE maths plus higher level qualifications. Age is no barrier to education.

Jalapeno said:

We should try to show useful maths -  where you can use it in life, like budgets/finances

Real world examples are used in teaching now. I agree that maths has to be perceived as relevant to students to engage them - of course, and that's why real world examples are included. 

I think they are better than when I was at school (20 years ago),  which is probably just as well!

There's also Functional Maths, a qualification that can be equivalent to a GCSE pass and just covers the maths you might use in everyday life.