To think the school system is ridiculous

[Suflan]

This post is talking about the school system in the republic of Ireland, but I know that the school system in the UK has some similiatites, so this is also relevant to people in the UK.

I went to school in Ireland a long time ago, 20 years ago.

My younger cousins are just sitting their school leaving certificate (irish equivalent to a levels) this year and they and their friends have been posting about the exams, after it happened, on social media.

I was just thinking what they learn and do exams on is such a load of shite. Like how is it relevant or necessary in todays world at all.

They posted about their maths paper, all the quadratic equations, prove that point 5,1 is on the line etc etc, extremely complicated equations, and algebra.

Like what do you need that for in life? Its so totally pointless. And maths is mandatory to do, so they need points from maths to get into University.

Like what is the point of learning these things. Surely they should be learning something useful. My cousins have said to me that they think that a lot of what they learn is totally pointless too

Some kids....! Some jobs....!

My DS is doing maths, physics and design tech A'levels because that is what he loves. He blossoms when faced with a tricky engineering problem. He gets positively enthusiastic - which given he's at the uncommunicative stage - is no small thing.

How much pasta to cook for visiting family.

I cant say that i start thinking of algebra equations when im cooking pasta!

I just put in a large amount of pasta to boil, then i serve out four dishes.

As a qualified accountant I can confirm I use algebra a lot…I might not literally write X = 5Y + 2 or whatever but I use it a lot. As others have said it’s about the thought process, interpretation of data etc.

I think you would be intersted to see the GCSE foundation papers that are used in England.

They just contain the useful maths that everyone uses in adult life. They are very good. It's only in the GCSE higher papers that the weird stuff is done and nobody is obliged to sit those.

qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/mathematics/2015/exam-materials/1ma1-3f-que-20220614.pdf

That sounds interesting thanks. I'll give it a read

It’s the logical thinking skills that maths gives you.

It is useful for everyday problem solving especially financial problems and if they go on into a job like finance or computing maths will be very useful.

I say that as someone in finance with a maths degree. I also do coding in my role. I use maths in my day to day job.

I think you just don’t really understand algebra and it’s uses tbh.

It is about the pathways that are opened up in the brain, not just the curriculum content.

Sorry but saying algebra is irrelevant just shows your ignorance towards the subject.

What an original thought. There certainly aren’t hundreds of threads on Mumsnet dating back years about exactly the same topic.

Doctor. Use it every day in drug calculations. Brother is an engineer, obviously uses it daily.

I use it decorating the house, to work out how much paint to buy. What do you do, buy a 5 litre tin per wall and hope it doesn’t run out?Gardening, to work out how much to dilute lawn feed by. We’re laying a lawn in autumn, I’ll use geometry and algebra to work out how much topsoil and how many runs of turf to order. I don’t actually know how anyone gets through the day without using algebra.

My dd did GCSEs last year and I was shocked how similar her experience was to mine. It felt like education hadn’t bothered to keep up with employer skill needs. For example, GCSE geography you have to memorise a lot of case study facts. Useful in a pub quiz but outside of that, in any workplace, that info is easily accessible and what we need employees to do is be able to challenge facts and critically appraise or make use of the information. Even English, they have to memorise pens and quotes from massive books that might help them to illustrate a point.

I think the focus is on the wrong skills. But dd2&3 are about to start GCSEs and I’m not sharing that opinion because that wouldn’t be helpful.

Counting change is algebra, if you actually look you’ll be surprised how often you actually use algebra.

My entire career relies on maths, I’d be fairly buggered if I had received a substandard education in maths.

Algebra is so completely irrelevant in this day and age.

What day and age was it more relevant ? You reckon it was more useful 20, 50 or 80 years ago?

The more you know or use your brain the better surely. And teaching a variety of ways of thinking : maths, music, English, woodwork, art whatever seems sensible.

Maybe I should use algebra instead of my rough guess which often leaves me with enough to feed the street 😬😂 (I actually loved maths at school).

Agree

I’m a computer programmer and use algebra throughout my work. Anyone doing anything related to computer science needs algebra.

I've used algebra at least twice today. Firstly for a diy project to work out the number of fittings needed to compete a job and to figure out which of several options was the most cost cost effective way to buy what I needed (multi packs with variations in the number of each item i needed in them).

I didn't think at the time "oh, I'm using algebra" but that's what it was. You probably do the same without realising.

Silly me, trained as an economist and working as a data scientist. Using algebra, trig, and calculus every day.

I didn’t plan to do much with maths in my career, but I shifted gears early on in university and never looked back.

These skills are more essential than ever. Anyone who wants to work with statistics or data needs to have a good understanding of mathematics.

Many jobs are ruled by data analytics these days, even if they aren’t the primary focus of the job.

Workers who think this has nothing to do with them are being scored and analyzed by systems put in place by their employers. Systems that analyze efficiency in multiple ways. Well educated workers can better understand the systems that are being used to judge them and control their livelihood.

As a way of thinking I use it all the time. Being able to generalise something, as opposed to understand just one, specific example, is very useful and algebra does that.

No. You're just being arrogant.

Some other posters on this thread have said that they think it is irrelevant too.

Just because it's not what you think, doesn't mean it's wrong.

I've seen young people say that algebra is pointless to study. Are their opinions not valid?

You need a certain body of knowledge to be able to build on at higher levels. Everyone uses some sort of maths, algebra has been useful in my household, pythagorus formula for example.

My wish list :
That primary schools in the UK would teach children at least one other language to fluency .
Also for both Primary & Secondary to teach First Aid & CPR & repeat every year from year 6 to 13 . Teach young people NEVER to leave anyone who is drunk / been taking drugs at a party or gathering on their back but to turn them on their side so they don’t die if they’re sick .
Teach Physics and Chemistry properly so that every child realises they have the ability to understand and love these subjects .
Teach a love and appreciation of nature & make school grounds beautiful, peaceful places .

I use algebra every day. I work in marketing.

That's basic multiplication/division.

200gx4=800g. Price divided by 8 gives you the price per 100g. 200gx6 =1200. Price divided by 12 gives you the price per 100g. No equations needed whatsoever. Also most shops show the price per 100g on the shelf label!!!

Some aspects of maths are useful in every day life or in various jobs. But I'd agree that the maths syllabus for GCSE is far too full of deeply theoretical stuff that doesn't have any real world application and will never be used. And the fact that young people are required to keep resitting exams which statistically a percentage will never pass is pointless and hugely demoralising. If they fail once they should immediately be put onto functional skills instead unless there is real evidence they just needed more practice.

In Scotland 16- -18 year olds can choose to study traditional Maths or Applications of Maths, which is the more functional everyday maths. Both at Nat 5 and Higher levels (roughly GCSE and A Level),
www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/81282.html