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

[BoffinMum]

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.

YANBU. How Vorderman has any credibility left given her willingness to attach herself to all those exploitative 'In debt? Why not get a loan?' adverts is completely beyond me.

And all the diet books, of course ...

The enduring problem with using "celebrities" to head up serious (non-celebrity) issues is that, when the celebrity's tenuous credibility wanes, the credibility of the issue wanes with it.

If you appoint someone unknown, but competent, their credibility can only grow. They can never lose public favour because they never had it, and the backing they do end up with is earnt.

Also, are teenagers really going to be impressed by a presenter from TV programme for nannas who once impersonated Cher - badly - on "Celebrity Stars In Their Eyes"?

I agree.
Fucking ridiculous.
Sad indictment of how little credit Joe Publi is given.Heaven forbid that someone who really knows what they are on about should front the show.

Good grief no! Let's have that tart who flogs Farmfood crap and the incredibly accuarate scientific concept of 'detoxing'.

What next?
Eamonn Holmes leads an independent review into cervical cancer treatments?
Danni Minogue unveils radical new pan to revolutionise air freight carbon output.

Fucking insane.

my objection to carol vord comes from her stick to her guns attitude when it was pointed out that despite her huge wealth she was advertising loans at shit rates aimed at daytime tv audiences ( poor people).

i haven't heard anything about this but i don't think it necessarily has to be headed by a maths professor

it really depends on what its aim is

it might be more about marketing to aparticular audience, in which case some grandiose marketing guru, may well be more apt?

I'd rather it was headed up by a mathmagician

t'would be better given the current circs

Marketed?
Why in the name of Christ should an investigation into our children's learning need to be marketed.
I f peopel feel it does, it goes to show we have plumbed new depths.

LOL Moondog!

I was on a degree validation panel recently for a foundation degree in Early Years education, and in the Early Years Maths module, most of what they apparently did was talk to the students about their negative feeling regarding Maths at school.

My response was that I was not approving that bollocks, and that they should be improving the students' actual knowledge of Maths to at least A Level standard, rather than having glorified circle time which only served to perpeuate the myth that Maths is a hard elitist subject 'not for the likes of them'.

The rot starts in schools, and no amount of brandishing Carol Vorderman is going to sort of a basic lack of subject knowledge amongst primary school teachers IMO, particularly if they allow each other to boast about how hard it is.

sorry - so cross apparently can't type:

negative feelings
Sort out a basic lack of knowledge

With an Engineering degree, even a third, she will be very good at a wide range of mathematical concepts.

I have a BIG problem with her credibility. She advertises a credit company which suggests debt is easy and even a good idea.