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Original poster

Why is it OK to say "I'm rubbish at maths" when...

114 replies

Clary · 01/07/2009 22:50

you would never freely admit to being rubbish at English?

A colleague said this to me today and manyothers have said it before when they ask me to explain how to work out percentages or whatever.

Why is it a badge of pride to say this? I work in an office where people deal with the written word and facts and figures all day. If they couldn't read they would really struggle - but apparently it's OK not to be able to do maths.

If they are really that bad, why don't they do an evening class?

OP posts:

cheesesarnie · 02/07/2009 10:17

im not very clued up on maths so im re-taking my maths gcse.i dont want to be the mum that says 'no i cant help with my dc homework because i dont understand it'.if i cant be bothered to try then why should they.

i passed my level one a couple of weeks ago and am taking my level at the end of this month.i'll never be a genius but im trying

edam · 02/07/2009 10:18

yay cheesy, we dairy products ROCK!

ingles2 · 02/07/2009 10:21

I think so edam, my son is the same. his comprehension and vocabulary is fantastic, he is definitely not stupid, but I have to spend so much time reassuring him of this..
Weirdly ds1 is exceptionally able at maths, I'm a decent enough mathematician but his brain just seems to work in a totally different way again, everything has to have a logical mathematical conclusion in his world. He'll definitely not be a great creative thinker

fembear · 02/07/2009 10:22

I doesn't bother me that other people can't do Maths. I can. So I am a rare and valuable commodity.

Actually, I can't see what the problem is. It's just the application of logic, innit?

fembear · 02/07/2009 10:24

CMOTdibbler · 02/07/2009 10:30

Everyone is good at different things - I'm good at maths and science, and suck at art. However, it does really, really annoy me that it is almost a badge of pride that 'no, I've never been able to do maths' or 'I don't understand science' like people think that if they did it would make them geeky.

cheesesarnie · 02/07/2009 10:35

why thankyou,thankyou

edam-yep us dairy products are just so cheddar(geddit-clever/cheddar).

Jux · 02/07/2009 10:38

DH always said he was crap at maths but was actually perfectly good and capable. He still says it now which annoys me a bit as he quite clearly isn't and it has affected dd, who now thinks maths is hard (which actually it isn't, but you need a good teacher).

edam · 02/07/2009 10:38

I'll brie delighted if you pass next month, you cheese-and-pickle!

cheesesarnie · 02/07/2009 10:40

Mamazon · 02/07/2009 10:40

i will quite happily admit i am rubbish at English.
not speaking it of course, although im sure there are plenty that'd argue.

but the gramma, spelling, understanding what nouns and verbs and stuff all mean....im pants

slug · 02/07/2009 10:46

ABetaDad, I'm very similar to you. I had average maths grades at school yet ended up teaching in in FE. I suspect there are a fair few people out there with discalculia and the experience of having to re-teach myself maths in order to teach it to students who had already failed once, gave me a large amount of sympathy for those who struggled.

I'm not sure there is any need for most people to understand the concept behind basic everday maths, all they need is the ability to just do it and get a reasonable answer. What is the point in teaching students that 7x8 is the same as counting up 7 lots of eight, when all they do then is count using their fingers, take ages to do it and keep getting mixed up and lost. Far better IME to learn the tables by rote, preferably in a chanting form which is easier for the brain to retain, then use the information rather than get flustered getting endlessly lost and wrong.

Maths is also surrounded in an air of mystery because of the language it uses. My students used to always be surprised that the first lesson of the year was a Greek and Latin one. These were students who had struggled with the metric system their entire school careers, yet after an hour linking centuary with cents with centurians, they finally worked out that centimeter and percent had something to do with 100. And more importantly, remembered it at the end of the year.

It's a pity there's so much emphasis on the concept rather than the mechanical process in schools. But then sometimes I think I'm dangerously old fashioned in that respect.

throckenholt · 02/07/2009 10:47

we have a culture of thinking maths is "difficult" and most people are happy to accept that it is too hard for them - sadly.

The problem is perpetuated because lots of primary school teachers are arts graduates and learnt early on at school themselves that maths was difficult. They never learnt to be really at ease with messing around with numbers and so it is almost impossible to instill that confidence in primary - so the cycle continues.

The sad thing it I think most people would be reasonably good at basic maths if they were shown how to understand it by someone with a real feel for how numbers work. It is often a matter of confidence.

There may be only one answer with maths - but there is often a multitide of ways of getting to that answer - not just one right way - and understanding that really helps I think.

cheesesarnie · 02/07/2009 10:48

slug,thats how im being taught.it makes more sense in my sometimes senseless brain.

TrillianAstrahasaJOB · 02/07/2009 10:52

Good luck with your exams cheesesarnie!

MrsMattie · 02/07/2009 10:54

It's not a 'badge of pride', it's a sad fact. I am absolutely shit at maths. I got A grades in English and arts subjects and scraped science, but failed maths miserably. I always thought it didn't matter much, as I did arts A levels, an artyu degree and have worked in the media ever since. However, now that my DS is approaching school age, I am sad and embarassed that I won't be able to help him with maths homework.

I did start a Maths GCSE by distance learning last year, but found it too hard! I need a teacher to explain it to me , but unfortunately, with a full time job, two kids and other priorities, it just aint gonna happen.

I do blame my schools. The teaching of maths was dire when I was at school. It was dry, uninspiring and very few people liked it or were good at it. I'm not sure what it's like these days? Got a feeling not much has changed, though.It's a shame the curriculum doesn't allow for more inspiring ways of teaching maths, especially at secondary school level. Maths has the potential to be a fascinating subject, as well as the fact thatbasic numeracy is a valuable life skill.

MrsMattie · 02/07/2009 10:56

Just to add - I really feel like I have some sort of maths equivalent to dyslecia. I find even the most basic multiplcation and division totally baffling, the numbers swim in front of me and I feel panicky and weird when I have to make additions/subtractions quickly. However, this discomfort around numbers and 'fear' of maths isn't really recognised, is it?

slug · 02/07/2009 10:57

Oooh, cheesie, I didn't catch that you're resitting GCSE. That was my specialism, getting em through with a decent C.

Good luck

Bucharest · 02/07/2009 10:58

I got a C at O'level maths and had begged and pleaded my mother to ask for me to be put into the CSE class instead....I scraped it, and now, cannot even do a %. I just blank out when I see anything to do with maths.
But then I'm also so supremely lacking in logic that both dp and my Mum think I shouldn't be left alone at home for any length of time. I'm the person who tries to blow a burning teatowel out over the sink while it never crossed my mind to turn the tap on.

bloss · 02/07/2009 11:01

Message withdrawn

cheesesarnie · 02/07/2009 11:04

i got a d in school so am hoping that although its however many years and 3 children later that i can beat my school grade!

btw i did english lit and lang at A-level but still cant be bothered with proper grammer etc half the time

bloss · 02/07/2009 11:06

Message withdrawn

bamboobutton · 02/07/2009 11:07

i have dyscalculia and i couldn't work out a percentage if my life depended on it!

i wish it was more recognised like dyslexia is and people could get help insead of being scorned as not trying or being thick.

i got a G at GCSE maths and doubt i could pass again if i retook it, my maths is that bad, which is a right bummer as i would love to train as a midwife.

bloss · 02/07/2009 11:08

Message withdrawn

siblingrivalry · 02/07/2009 11:10

My dd (8) has a diagnosis of dyscalculia and we are struggling to get through the basics. As other posters have said, it's impossible to move on til she has grasped basic concepts.

Due to this and numerous other issues, we home educate her and this works well for her as we can present maths in a way that is best for her.

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