Maths teacher

Okay fair enough I forgot that part. But you clearly had ability and didn't try. There are plenty of kids who try really hard but just cannot progress beyond a certain grade/level

Sounds awful but her previous teacher told me to get her to do it like a performing seal. Worryingly this completely innumerate student still attained grade G (supposedly a pass grade) at GCSE.

And if someone has had basic addition and subtraction explained to them and they still can't do it, then I fear they might have bigger problems in life, such as learning how to dress or feed themselves.

That is pretty amazing. I assume she wouldn't be able to do the questions such as "Is 1234 bigger than 1024?" that is bread-and-butter for even foundation level candidates.

That is pretty amazing. I assume she wouldn't be able to do the questions such as "Is 1234 bigger than 1024?" that is bread-and-butter for even foundation level candidates.

And if someone has had basic addition and subtraction explained to them and they still can't do it, then I fear they might have bigger problems in life, such as learning how to dress or feed themselves.

By the time I started my NQT year, I thought I had already encountered some very weak students but I was unprepared for teaching a Year 11 girl who couldn't count beyond 20. She went "... 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 76, 94, 52, 64, 33 ...". I have never really got over the shock!

And if someone has had basic addition and subtraction explained to them and they still can't do it, then I fear they might have bigger problems in life, such as learning how to dress or feed themselves.

Firstly that is totally untrue. I know a number of adults who function perfectly well in life but cannot add or subtract at all (and I mean AT ALL). Secondly that is incredibly offensive and I truly truly hope with an attitude like that you never become a teacher. If you were my kids teacher I would do everything in my power to make sure you got sacked

lol. Here-in lies the problem with the UK and particularly with its education system. Pushy, middle-class people with a severe sense of entitlement yet no sense of responsibility.

People learn in different ways. I have a few pupils who are great at things to do with shape and measure, yet other things like written methods for addition/subtraction elude them.

lol. Here-in lies the problem with the UK and particularly with its education system. Pushy, middle-class people with a severe sense of entitlement yet no sense of responsibility.

It's just a pity that stuff to do with shape and measure is almost universally useless and basic addition and subtraction is so useful. I really think people shouldn't be able to leave school without being able to add two numbers together, personally.

And btw I'm not middle class. And I wouldn't mind if my child was poor at maths - it's would be your attitude as a teacher that there was something wrong with my child because she is poor at maths that would enrage me

She'd be poor at maths because she didn't try and had a mother who was willing to tolerate her mediocrity and laziness. Not because of any lack of ability. The same with almost everyone else who is "poor" at maths. I stand by what I said - there is no excuse for not being able to add or subtract two numbers after 4 years of maths education and people who can't aged 16 shouldn't be allowed to leave school.

Nope. Firstly the problem is YOU and your disgusting prejudices. As well as people who clearly have no interest in teaching and just want a cushy career thinking they can turn up, open a text book, tick a few questions, go home and do nothing else. Disgusting

Luckily, you don't run this country.

I found maths difficult at school and believe it's all to do with the way it is taught. I wasn't lazy, I wanted to be good but I had a teacher who taught out of a maths text book.
And I can't believe you think there is no such thing as "lack of ability", what utter rubbish.

There are a few things I think need clarifying here.

a) I don't want to be a teacher. I started this thread because I wanted to know what life as a maths teacher was like, so that next time someone tells me teaching is difficult, I can tell them they don't know the meaning of the word.

b) You can. My teachers did it with me. My old A-level maths teacher had no idea what we were doing until she opened up our textbook and read the next part of the book at that very moment. She was still an excellent teacher.

c) I think a bigger problem is people like you, who don't know anything about maths, have never excelled at it, and correspondingly are going to have no chance of inspiring our next generation of mathematicians, teaching mathematics. That is the real problem with our mathematics education system.

So what do we do? If they can't do it keep them there till their 45. Some people (particularly but not exclusively those with dyscalculia) just cannot understand the concepts of addition and subtraction

You can believe what you want really, though, can't you? Of course, you'll blame the way you were taught rather than yourself - it's easier that way, and it fits in better with your world view that you are special, and exceptional, and hence the only rational explanation is that other people have failed you.

You've also decided to put words in my mouth. I do, contrary to your assertion, believe in a lack of ability. It is just almost never the limiting factor in most cases, and certainly not in the case of being able to add or subtract two numbers together.

If they have some sort of learning disorder, they'd be in a school for people with learning disabilities (or at least, they should be) rather than your average comprehensive school, so they'd be excluded, obviously.