It was announced by the UK Government today that children would soon be trialling an initiative to have all their times tables up to 12 learnt by the time they leave primary school.
The announcement made it appear that this was a "new and exciting" idea. It clearly isn't. And it's only a trial!
I know I sound like a cantankerous old git; but this was normal when I was young. In fact, we had to know our times tables before we got to junior school at the age of seven. When my daughter was in primary school, they made a half-hearted effort at doing this, but it was never really enforced. As parents, we tried and tried to help her learn them - and to this day, she knows 7 x 8 instantly; but not many of the others.
My point? If I have one, it's that I wish the Government would stop messing about with the whole education system. Mr Gove did his best to destroy the last remains of good teaching by decimating what remained of the support teachers received and giving them all such unachievable targets and requirements. Now we are left with disgruntled, over-worked teachers and children who are taught to pass an exam, not to learn a subject.
Yes, learning times tables is an integral part of basic mathematics. Yes, it forms a vital part of life in general when children finally lift their eyes above their smart phones. But no, on its' own, it will not cure what is wrong with the educational system. This has gone far beyond the point it can be fixed with one small change. We need someone in charge who has the "balls" to challenge everything which has changed over the past decade. So let's face it, that's not going to happen any time soon and my sympathy therefore goes out to all children and parents of those children in the education system over the next decade. And my heart goes out to all the teachers, because they will continue to do their best against all the odds, but will never get the recognition they deserve for all they do.
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