M&S Back to School campaign

[SheilaH30]

I was horrified to see that M&S’s back to school clothing campaign is perpetrating the trope that people don’t like maths - bear with me on this one! It begins “Maths you will like” with the offer of 20% off. The suggestion is that this is the only maths you’ll like.

I’m a maths teacher and we have a huge problem trying to overcome maths anxiety - yes, it’s a thing! Why is it OK to say you’re hopeless at maths but not that you’re hopeless at reading?! I hear it time and again when speaking to parents.

I’ve emailed M&S’s CEO but simply got a stock we’ll pass it on, internal matter, blah, blah, blah. It’s not good enough.

Can I ask you to email their CEO at [email protected] and tell him his company is promoting a trope you disagree with. And perhaps go elsewhere for your kids’ school clothes this year?

Seriously?!

I think they have enough problems really. I really feel like we should be supportive of them at the moment or we are going to end up with no shops at all.

I couldn’t agree more with OP. Not only is the “maths is boring” trope damaging to so many kids’ educations, but it also perpetuates the idea that enjoying maths makes someone inherently odd. I can’t believe that this sort of advertising still exists, and it’s particularly galling when you consider that most people in senior positions at M&S probably excelled at maths themselves

The “I don’t like maths, I can’t do maths <tinkly laugh>” narrative really pees me off. Nobody would ever be so lightheartedly dismissive about not being able to read very well.

I’m not entirely sure about your complaint re: the advertising slogan. I definitely like the 20% off!

“Maths you’ll like” with the inference that the rest of maths you won’t like.

I agree but will be going elsewhere in any case because their uniform does not fit my offspring. Surely they have armies of well paid marketing managers who should be filtering out this old fashioned rubbish?

It’s a joke!!!! Besides, it’s aimed at the parents, not the kids……

I can assure you it’s no joke.

I honestly think you're overthinking this massively!

Oh good grief Charlie Brown.

Or…..teach kids to think that maths work FOR you in the their classes. Maths that work for you are the ones that will be needed.

Could the “it’s just a joke ffs” people imagine an Argos campaign with the tagline: “The Argos Catalogue - a book you’ll actually want to read”? I couldn’t

I find kids obsessed with STEM. How many do maths A level compared with MFL?