Parents want compulsory maths, science scrapped at MP school

[Neptuner]

I guess you don't require maths or physics to be a politician...

 

[konfab]

That plumber will be driving a Mercedes whilst you putter around in your fscked Picanto.

That is, so long as there is running water. Which given the sad history of SA, isn't actually a given.

 

[VooDooC]

One day the headline will read

Parents prevented classes from starting, demanding the school stops forcing learners to study​

 

[deweyzeph]

Well I am more cynical than that. I have seen plenty of kids who had all the opportunity of a decent education and still didn't bother.

I know what you mean, but by "decent education" I don't necessarily mean going to a rich school. What I really mean is those one-in-a-million maths and science teachers who inspire everyone they teach to do well in maths and science. Unfortunately teachers like that are in very very short supply.

 

[Hemi300c]

I suppose with an ever increasing amount of unemployed...There wont be much point going to school in a few more years anyway....

Dj
Car Wash
Chickens
Hairdresser

Your career paths in 2025....

(Then again Zuma has no math skills either and he did alright for himself....)

Cancelled because you will be a stay at home Mum.

 

[mojoman]

I guess you don't require maths or physics to be a politician...

Rumour has it you dont even need a brain...

 

[konfab]

I know what you mean, but by "decent education" I don't necessarily mean going to a rich school. What I really mean is those one-in-a-million maths and science teachers who inspire everyone they teach to do well in maths and science. Unfortunately teachers like that are in very very short supply.

That one is because there are no performance incentives for being a good teacher in public education.

 

[Neptuner]

sure, but what future do they have? I mean a Plumber in 10 years, will be,

a plumber????

Wrong... see career path below

1. Learner Plumber
2. Plumber
3. Senior Plumber
4. Principal Plumber
5. Chief Plumber
6. Specialist Plumber
7. Retired Plumber

 

[porchrat]

To everyone who says they must go into the trades: yes trade schools are absolutely a necessary part of dealing with the education system. However, South Africa has the option of math literacy for those who don't want to go into a white collar job. And very likely the children failing math, are actually failing math lit.
Now call me cynical, but if you cannot even pass math lit, you are either mentally retarded (which isn't the case here), chronically lazy (still don't think that is the case), or there are chronic issues at the school and homes of these children. Like the teacher not being in class, or the parents not giving a toss about their children's education. If you cannot pass math lit, you would not be able to make it in the trades.

You're quite right. I've seen what Maths Lit is like. Most mathematically complicated thing I saw in there was calculating area.

If you can't pass that you're unlikely to be able to function as a plumber or electrician or cabinet maker or anything like that.

 

[The_MAC]

So we can have more of this..

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Ohnoes it's too hard. Must drop out and breed more of our DNA into the gene pool...

 

[Nerfherder]

Wait they do realize if their kids make it to grade 10 they don't have to do math or science?

Correct.

Why don't they just get a school leavers cert ?

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Some people just don't have the aptitude for Maths and Science. It's sad but true.

If the kids are hopeless at these subjects there's no point in pushing it on them. As has been suggested just replace those subjects with something more hands-on. The world needs blue collar workers just as it needs white collar workers.

Parents just mustn't expect a white collar future without Maths.

It needs to be mandatory until grade 9. In grade 10 and beyond you should be able to choose your subjects. But you cannot go through life without any mathematical aptitude whatsoever...

 

[R13...]

That one is because there are no performance incentives for being a good teacher in public education.

Yes, that is thanks to the unions and their insistence of a bargain council incentive structure. It's a thankless job dealing with unruly kids who don't want to be in school. Luckily you still do get teachers with a passion to teach and many kids do want to learn. It's the few who are loud and disruptive who cause the most problems.

 

[deweyzeph]

Yes, that is thanks to the unions and their insistence of a bargain council incentive structure. It's a thankless job dealing with unruly kids who don't want to be in school. Luckily you still do get teachers with a passion to teach and many kids do want to learn. It's the few who are loud and disruptive who cause the most problems.

Teacher's unions are the single biggest reason why our education system is in such a mess despite the huge amount of money that is spent on the education budget every year.

 

[saor]

sure, but what future do they have? I mean a Plumber in 10 years, will be,

a plumber????

Maybe go complain about apple or something.

 

[Kosmik]

sure, but what future do they have? I mean a Plumber in 10 years, will be,

a plumber????

You haven't paid a plumber in a while. Become an entrepreneur and create your own business etc. et. what exactly are you expecting? Its like saying a doctor in 10 years is a what?

 

[Neptuner]

I'm trying to picture myself informing my father as a teenager:

Me: Dad, uhm... I need you to go to the school and tell the principal to remove math's and physics from the syllabus as I will be failing...

Dad:

 

[ToxicBunny]

It needs to be mandatory until grade 9. In grade 10 and beyond you should be able to choose your subjects. But you cannot go through life without any mathematical aptitude whatsoever...

So I'm a bit less sold on Maths/Science being compulsory till grade 9, but there needs to be a defined minimum benchmark of maths and science knowledge that our schools teach (and that the kids can be proven to understand) regardless of choosing an academic or trades track.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

So I'm a bit less sold on Maths/Science being compulsory till grade 9, but there needs to be a defined minimum benchmark of maths and science knowledge that our schools teach (and that the kids can be proven to understand) regardless of choosing an academic or trades track.

Up until grade 9 it's basic arithmetic, algebra and geometry. No calculus or trigonometry. That should be enough without even needing the waste that is maths lit...