To think the school system is ridiculous

Dunno your name pal so Dave it is!

You still haven't answered the question, what do you think they should be learning if Maths etc are all useless. What are the useful things they should be learning that don't require any of the current subjects?

No I did it to Higher level as I went to school in Scotland. Everyone who stayed on past 16 at my school did maths of some form in 5th year, at intermediate level if they weren’t at the level to go for a higher in it.

Doesn't matter the level it is still using algebra in daily life which Dave here says that he never does.

I’m afraid that almost all modern careers need maths. Some “jobs” don’t need maths…but most careers do. I do understand though that what is almost certainly needed is some motivation as to why we are learning certain maths principles. I think this would help young learners to make the connection and see the importance of it

This! Maths is not about getting an answer it is about learning to think!

But that is below O level. Not A level

No-one is saying that you shouldn't learn maths up to O level/GCSE

That is 11 year old maths!

Maths, English and Irish are mandatory, a lot of third level courses require a modern foreign language.

I don't use algebra at all, and I speak as someone who found maths challenging at best and fairly dull but I think the premise of your post is completely wrong.

You're approaching this from the standpoint that the only value of education is in preparing kids for work or everyday life: you're missing the wider value of a good education.

• To develop critical thinking skills (which applies across any academic discipline)
• To encourage intellectual curiosity for its own sake (ie not simply limited to its vocational or practical use)
• To learn study skills
• To learn to understand a different perspective from your own
• To apply logic
• To learn to interpret sources of information
• To develop rhetorical skill and the capacity for argument
• To learn what are and aren't interested in

I have a completely arts/humanities based education and leaned heavily towards arts from A level onwards. I don't use science vocationally at all, never have. But my life is massively enriched by the fact that I find chemistry fascinating and have learned enough basic biology and physics to want to learn more.

Boiling it down to "I don't use this in my day to day life so it has no value" is so reductive and limiting.

So what should be!
genuine question. What would you have people
study

But maths in particular. The curriculum looks like it was desigbed 100 years ago.

Algebra is so completely irrelevant in this day and age.

It's got nothing to do with 'this day and age'. What proportion of people do you think went on to use algebra in their jobs 50 or 100 years ago? Or chemistry? Or Shakespeare? Or French? The point is to teach them how to learn and teach them a broad curriculum so that they are rounded human beings. And also so that the ones who want to go on and become scientists, doctors, teachers, lawyers etc actually have a grounding in the subjects they need.

Yes of course there are discussions to be had about what should stay in the curriculum. But if you tried teaching all the things MNers believe should be added to the curriculum (most of which shpuld be taughtby parents or can be leaened from You Tube, frankly), we'd have to get rid of all academic subjects!

What subject did you study to degree level @Suflan , and what do you do now?

But that is O level not A level.

I hated maths at school and thought exactly this. I now code complex calculations and I can assure you that algebra is definitely relevant.

Never thought I'd need it til I did!

Electricians use algebra

Transition Year in Ireland enables teenagers to examine a lot of social issues, and concentrate on non academic fields.
I have 3 adult kids with partners...one in finance, one a secondary science teacher, one a hcp, one an engineer, one an architect and one an accountant. So all use maths daily . I work in retail, with a budget to manage. My husband is in education management, with a budget, and exam marking. We all use maths.

But all those professions need further study after A levels. So the courses should have maths modules to teach them what they need to an architect, engineer etc.

There is no need for someone studying history at university to do a maths A level unless they want to. Should someone who fails maths A level not be able to study history at uni?

I haven’t read the full thread so sorry if it’s been said already. In Scotland the National 4/5 level (GCSE equivalent) offers the choice of studying maths or financial services depending which is better for the pupil. There’s also DEC (design, engineer, construct) which allows the pupils to access real world examples of maths being used in the working world. I wish we’d had these options when I was doing my GCSE’s, so much more choice and allows for different learning styles. Fantastic.

OP, your posts would have more credibility were you to suggest options for learning, rather than accusing posters who are disagreeing with you of being rude and reiterating that maths is a waste of time and that most young people you know dislike school.

I think quite a few people would agree that some reform would be useful. Some practical applications of maths, like managing money, budgeting would certainly be so. But education is about more than learning different subjects. It’s about the development of independent and critical thinking, it’s about cooperation and listening to different points of view, it’s about relationships, friendships, courtesy, respect and a host of other things.

It would seem that you didn’t enjoy your school experience. Nevertheless, it gave you the opportunity to benefit from higher education.

Nope but I use it daily as will you more than likely. 4 year olds get taught algebra. It is basic maths understanding of number and calculations.

Never been to a shop and looked at a deal saying 2 packets of biscuits for £1.50. You calculating that 1 packet is 75p is algebra!

2x = £1.50
X = 75p

An informed opinion is valid of course. A stamping my feet just cause I don’t like it isn’t.
you asked how it’s relevant in real
life and lots of people told you how it’s relevant but you just don’t like it

https://www.theguardian.com/education/article/2024/aug/15/more-maths-more-regional-disparity-england-a-level-results-in-five-charts

Maths A-Level was the most popular choice in the last academic year.