to think that "literacy" and "numeracy" as school subjects sounds utterly naff, ignorant and illiterate?

[GreensleevesSusan]

talk about "committee thinking". WHOSE stupid idea was it to change "English" and "Maths" to "literacy" and "numeracy"? They aren't subjects or lesson titles fgs. It sounds crap.

AIBUIYO?

I'm guessing that in using the terms "literacy" and "numeracy" the government was seeking to remind teachers what they should be aiming towards with these two mainstays of primary education.

Comprehension; therefore the aim of the lesson was that we should understand something we'd read; could have been taught in a wonderfully exciting way; was taught in this way:

'Now turn to page 12 of New Worlds to Conquer and when you have finished that page put your hand up.'

And we would plough our way through a very, very dull passage, and 10 questions like 'Was Mr Smith angry or happy when his car wouldn't start?'

Literacy to me expresses a wider aim - that the child's literacy should be improved. I would think that a good teacher could do more with that. (Although I do understand that there seem to be lots of rules preventing much freedom in teaching that either. No doubt I will find out more as ds gets older).

I agree - "literacy" and "numeracy" ought to be directed at the teachers, not the pupils

I like 100times' "Pointless but Enjoyable or With No Specific Purpose or An Entirely Undirected Exercise with No Goals" ...sounds fun to teach as well

When I did my O Levels in Scotland we had O level arithmetic and O Level Maths as separate subjects - hence I believe I am NUMERATE but algebra is anathema to me.

And when I came to England was totally flummoxed by English Literature and English Grammar being separate subjects

To be honest I am happy they are using longer words like numeracy and literacy to describe a subject area - it could be one cock of a lot worse - they could go all American and describe it as MATH (shudder)

I would quite like to see a split between Maths and numeracy. There are some children who would benefit from a focus on basic numeracy rather than Maths and all it's disciplines.