Parents want compulsory maths, science scrapped at MP school

[Cosmik Debris]

So then actually standards have increased since you can't do a trade without a gr 11 or equivalent certificate.

No, the N3 then was the equivalent of the then matric math and science. The subjects had to be studied during the apprenticeship with two more subjects like the trade theory.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Even in mining towns and rural villages. It's the snobs that work in air-conditioned offices in the cities that look down on apprentices.

The snobs with only a matric or less as well.

 

[ToxicBunny]

No, the N3 then was the equivalent of the then matric math and science. The subjects had to be studied during the apprenticeship with two more subjects like the trade theory.

Yeah but you said guys who had bailed from school in gr 10 could do a trade... Now they need a gr11, so standards have gone up to do a trade.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Does anyone remember these - this was our calculator, used in Matric.
The thing is, you needed to understand logarithms, trigonometry and order of mathematical function.


View attachment 1353758

View attachment 1353762

Oh yes, I remember the tables. As you say, you needed to understand logarithms, trigonometry and the order of mathematical function to use them. Slide rules were not allowed in matric although some had them as a novelty to check their answers. Not in exams though.

 

[The_MAC]

She's a doctoral student wherever she is.

Medical, or of the Arts?

 

[Paulsie]

Interesting that when it comes to their own money, their calculations are ALWAYS spot on!!! Percentages, fractions, no problem.

 

[TEXTILE GUY]

The first high school I attended was a private school.
It worked on the Cambridge education system.

We did 12 subjects - and it was an 8 - 16h00 job.

Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
English
French or Latin
Afrikaans
History
Geography
Art
Wood and metal work
Physical Torture (PT)

Could you imagine if this was introduced today ............ pandemonium

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Yeah but you said guys who had bailed from school in gr 10 could do a trade... Now they need a gr11, so standards have gone up to do a trade.

They could bail with a Std 8 Certificate. The subjects presented during the apprenticeship were on the matric level for N3, which was obligatory including the practical phase before a trade test could be undertaken.

Many bailed to take an apprenticeship as it meant, unlike for their matric buddies:

1. They would be employed and earning money while their buddies at school were in Std 9
2. Their military service would be deferred until after their trade test
3. They would be drafted to engineering and maintenance units for their military service and had employment waiting on their return
4. They only needed to pass 2 matric level languages to have a full matric. Many did these in the army and came out to a nice pay increase.

You need to remember that in those days matrics were automatically paid more than Std 8's in the same job.

 

[TEXTILE GUY]

They could bail with a Std 8 Certificate. The subjects presented during the apprenticeship were on the matric level for N3, which was obligatory including the practical phase before a trade test could be undertaken.

Many bailed to take an apprenticeship as it meant, unlike for their matric buddies:

1. They would be employed and earning money while their buddies at school were in Std 9
2. Their military service would be deferred until after their trade test
3. They would be drafted to engineering and maintenance units for their military service and had employment waiting on their return
4. They only needed to pass 2 matric level languages to have a full matric. Many did these in the army and came out to a nice pay increase.

You need to remember that in those days matrics were automatically paid more than Std 8's in the same job.

The minimum to apply for officer school, MP Provost Unit or JLs in the army was Matric IIRC?

 

[Cosmik Debris]

The first high school I attended was a private school.
It worked on the Cambridge education system.

We did 12 subjects - and it was an 8 - 16h00 job.

Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
English
French or Latin
Afrikaans
History
Geography
Art
Wood and metal work
Physical Torture (PT)

Could you imagine if this was introduced today ............ pandemonium

I was in a government school and we had all those except for French and Latin. in Std 6&7 (grades 8&9). By Std 8 (grade 10), you had to have made up your mind which 6 subjects out of those you wanted to take till matric. Two languages, math and science were compulsory.

There were three streams from Std 8:

Higher Grade - For the more academically inclined. Above 60% ensured a university exemption pass.
Standard Grade - For the average student that might study further at a college but not a university.
Practical Grade - For those not academically inclined and with practical subjects like hairdressing and cooking.

The education system was well thought out.

 

[ForceFate]

The first high school I attended was a private school.
It worked on the Cambridge education system.

We did 12 subjects - and it was an 8 - 16h00 job.

Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
English
French or Latin
Afrikaans
History
Geography
Art
Wood and metal work
Physical Torture (PT)

Could you imagine if this was introduced today ............ pandemonium

Was that in matric?

 

[Cosmik Debris]

The minimum to apply for officer school, MP Provost Unit or JLs in the army was Matric IIRC?

All officers needed a matric minimum throughout the SADF. JL's were accessible but a non matric could not become an officer. They became corporals. Not sure of the MP's.

 

[TEXTILE GUY]

Was that in matric?

No, that was for O level.

 

[RonSwanson]

MY FATHER WAS A GARDEN BOY AND MY MOTHER WAS A KITCHEN GIRL, THAT IS WHY I WANT MY SON TO BE A GARDEN BOY AND MY DAUGHTER TO BE A KITCHEN GIRL.

The tragedy is that even garden boys (well, the good ones) have a basic understanding of botanical sciences, and even kitchen girls have a basic understanding of the chemistry involved in baking.

 

[RonSwanson]

The world needs competent blue collar workers just as it needs white collar workers.

FTFY
Even a blue-collar worker needs maths and science. Or were you reffering to orange collar workers?

 

[porchrat]

FTFY
Even a blue-collar worker needs maths and science. Or were you reffering to orange collar workers?

They need some, but the level is debatable.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

They need some, but the level is debatable.

And with no math at all, which the parents want to be the case, workers can only be orange collar.

 

[porchrat]

And with no math at all, which the parents want to be the case, workers can only be orange collar.

This is a secondary school. I don't think we're talking about no maths at all here.

Grade 7 in Maths is enough to take you to basic algebra.

 

[AfricanTech]

Eish...

 

[Cosmik Debris]

This is a secondary school. I don't think we're talking about no maths at all here.

Grade 7 in Maths is enough to take you to basic algebra.

But you will not have basic algebra in grade 8 in a no math school as the parents are demanding.