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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that a Maths task force should be led by a mathematician?

38 replies

BoffinMum · 02/02/2009 11:07

I am baffled as to why, when the Tories wanted to set up a Maths education taskforce, they asked Carol Vorderman to head it up, as she has a third class degree in Engineering and is a TV presenter who has never been a teacher or educational researcher.

Do we not have any mathematicians to hand?

DH says it's because she's fit.

OP posts:
BonsoirAnna · 02/02/2009 11:13

Don't be so hung up on formal qualifications. Carol Vorderman has proved her worth in attracting an audience - that is what matters.

WorzselMummage · 02/02/2009 11:16

Its because she' got a better chance of getting younge brains intrested in maths than some fusty professor.

She's pretty shit hot at maths too...

mm22bys · 02/02/2009 11:16

She is high profile, she is great at maths, and she has has "authored" loads of children's maths book. Oh and you do need just a little maths in engineering anyway .

Who would you rather have?

YABU.

WEESLEEKITLauriefairycake · 02/02/2009 11:20

why do people think she is great at maths.

she is good at mental arithmetic - that is cock all to do with actual maths.

Original poster
BoffinMum · 02/02/2009 11:21

Thank you Laurie, that is what I meant.

OP posts:
muppetgirl · 02/02/2009 11:22

Who would you have lead it?

(Just scratching head trying to think of a high profiled mathematician...)

sorrento · 02/02/2009 11:23

So do you have to have a degree at something to be good at it now then ?
Documented evidence ?
She has better mental arithmetic than most and that's good enough for most people.
How much do you use calculous in day to day life ?

WEESLEEKITLauriefairycake · 02/02/2009 11:24

I can't bear 'personality' politics or Tories come to that

No other political parties any better mind

Original poster
BoffinMum · 02/02/2009 11:24

Mathematicians are not all blokes of 60 you know

OP posts:
sorrento · 02/02/2009 11:24

Oh and something needs to happen because the 16 year olds I interviewed recently for a very basic electrical engineering course were piss poor, my 8 year old has better maths.

Gorionine · 02/02/2009 11:28

YANBU BoffinMum!

mm22bys · 02/02/2009 11:29

Laurie, where's your proof that she's "bad" a "real" maths? Last time I looked you an engineering degree worth its salt had more than a reasonable amount of maths in it...

StarlightMcKenzie · 02/02/2009 11:30

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mm22bys · 02/02/2009 11:30

Let's try that one again....

Laurie, where's your proof that she's "bad" at "real" maths? Last time I looked any engineering degree worth its salt had more than a reasonable amount of maths in it...

mm22bys · 02/02/2009 11:31

Starlight, sudoku has nothing to do with Maths at all, they are logic puzzles...

WEESLEEKITLauriefairycake · 02/02/2009 11:31

I didn't say she is 'bad' at real maths - what I'm saying is that all we actually know (from seeing her on tv) is that she is good at mental arithmetic which has nothing to do with maths.

She could be fantastic at actual maths and I wouldn't know because I strongly suspect she is picked for her personality and because the general population thinks maths is mental arithmetic.

Disclaimer - I have not read or have knowledge of Carol Vordermans Curriculum Vitae

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 02/02/2009 11:32

YANBU

Everyone thinks she's good at maths because of Countdown. Appointing a Cambridge crusty was never going to have the same impact is the thinking behind it I assume, although that person would undoubtedly have been better for the job!

WEESLEEKITLauriefairycake · 02/02/2009 11:33

BTW I have software engineering quals but I do not even have GCSE maths. I am, however, fabulous at mental arithmetic.

muppetgirl · 02/02/2009 11:33

I would assume that she's just the face of this new think tank designed to get young people/parents involved as they have a 'I know her, she's alright' sort of way. I wouldn't think for one minute that she actually influences policy.

Most people find Maths threatening and to put up someone who may have the most amazing qualifications may actually do more harm than good.

Original poster
BoffinMum · 02/02/2009 11:34

Yes, but I reckon people who spend their entire lives delving deep into maths education at a profound level ought to be given more of a voice here, and while the Vordermans of this world are decorative and generate publicity on such committees, I question the virtue of inviting them to head up things like this.

OP posts:
mm22bys · 02/02/2009 11:34

Presumably the Tory party has , and presumably the Tory party also realises that maths is not just mental arithmetic (although that would be a good start....)

StarlightMcKenzie · 02/02/2009 11:35

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Message withdrawn

muppetgirl · 02/02/2009 11:35

Do we know that no one of high profile maths status isn't involved albeit behind the scenes?

TrillianAstra · 02/02/2009 11:35

Maths at school is nothing like the stuff mathematicians do. Personally I would go for someone qualified as a maths teacher or someone with public presentation skills.

There is maths in Engineering, but I think the point may have been that Carol Vorderman got a third.

mm22bys · 02/02/2009 11:39

She'll just be a figurehead, they will have loads of Cambridge crusties in the taskforce. Alot of people think academics don't live in the real world anyway so would put people off.

Time will tell.

At least they want to do something. When I was at school you needed two maths subjects (called Maths I and Maths II) to do engineering at university level...