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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2012 19:51:06 GMT -1
I read a report yesterday that claimed 25% of the English and Welsh population have the maths/arithmetic capability expected of 8 year olds while a further 25% attain only that of 11 year olds. It also claimed that numeracy is even more important than literacy in determining future personal success. The report's author stated that E&W might use the Scottish system as a model for future maths teaching ;D I was pleased by the time the wean got to school that more emphasis was placed on maths/arithmetic in practical applications than the generation before hers. It's seen as imperative for life skills again. I'm frankly amazed (coming from a generation schooled in the 60s and 70s) how incompetent kids in their 20s and early 30s are in the basics. Last night at a works do, when the bill came, one 20-something got out his calculator to divide £248 by 8. The three 50+s had done the sum in their head before he'd even punched the numbers in. I do wonder if the lack of numeracy contributes to so many getting out of their depth with debt/loans/interest/the cost of living. It shirley must? How disabling, really.  |
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Post by ozneil on Mar 3, 2012 23:30:22 GMT -1
When I started work no calculators all done by hand or comptometer operators. Slide rules werent accurate enough We had a clerkess that could add up all 3 columns of £ s d in her head at once. At least then it was the duo-decimal system which was quick & logical. Then the pollies decided fingers and toes should replace logic. Mind you I have got lazy too and use calculators and spreadsheets as well as standard industrial programmes. I can do in 30seconds something that used to take half a day |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2012 19:25:07 GMT -1
Yeah, Oz I think we all maybe use spreadsheets for work or for home expenses or whatever. Useful tools, sure, for quickness and efficiency.
I was really meaning more about a basic understanding of arithmetic, rather than complex budget calculations, and how a lack of it could be disabling in everyday life.
There was a case in the UKE a few years back of a parent who overdosed a child because they couldn't understand dosage instructions on a medicine bottle, for example.
The wean was taught basic arithmetic with practical applications such as (hell!) compound interest on loans, how to evaluate supermarket offers like BOGOFs, and how to manage basic household budgets.
The worst of it is, if we have a generation that can't understand numbers they will be taken advantage of, end of. Do we not have a duty of care to give our kids the basics so they're smarter than to be ripped off?
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Post by ozneil on Mar 5, 2012 19:53:56 GMT -1
Kid you not!
Saw in supermarket on special 1kg coffee $27.99, underneath it were 500gm packs of same coffee at $12.99 each, not marked special.
My favourite was a shoe shop with sign in window "BUY ONE GET ONE FREE"
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Post by notanimby on Mar 5, 2012 20:01:12 GMT -1
may have told this one before
some years ago whiulst waiting to pick sonme folk up at Glesga airport I went into McDonalds for lunch - haufwit who served me, says to me after giving him a tenner, he grabs a fistful of notes and coins frae ra till
"kin you take whutever change you need - am no to good at ra coontin"
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2012 20:04:49 GMT -1
Kid you not! Saw in supermarket on special 1kg coffee $27.99, underneath it were 500gm packs of same coffee at $12.99 each, not marked special. My favourite was a shoe shop with sign in window "BUY ONE GET ONE FREE" Ah yes. Happens here all the time, Oz. People just see the big red OFFER signs and think they're getting a bargain. I reckon supermarkets know fine well half their customers cannae count. That's what I mean about preparing kids for real life. Teach em to see through it and be SMARTER. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2012 20:12:33 GMT -1
may have told this one before some years ago whiulst waiting to pick sonme folk up at Glesga airport I went into McDonalds for lunch - haufwit who served me, says to me after giving him a tenner, he grabs a fistful of notes and coins frae ra till "kin you take whutever change you need - am no to good at ra coontin" What did you do, Nota? |
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Post by ozneil on Mar 5, 2012 20:16:13 GMT -1
Years ago in a country far away a friend of mine was nicked for speeding in the bad old days when the cops used 2 stopwatches.
Cop says to my friend "Ye wur timed ower a dsitance aw "x"" an it took ye ""Y" seconds that means yer speed wuz 40mph in a 30 zone"
Friend whipped out slide rule slid centre rule back & forward 2 or 3 time,s no calculations, and said "no it doesnt its 28MPH!!" Cop "Oan yer way laddie"
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Post by notanimby on Mar 5, 2012 20:18:57 GMT -1
may have told this one before some years ago whiulst waiting to pick sonme folk up at Glesga airport I went into McDonalds for lunch - haufwit who served me, says to me after giving him a tenner, he grabs a fistful of notes and coins frae ra till "kin you take whutever change you need - am no to good at ra coontin" What did you do, Nota? Well efter being rather surprised I obviously took the correct change,...................... |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2012 20:37:36 GMT -1
You're obviously aware that these minimum (or less) wage outlets take any till shortfalls out of the hapless employee's wage, then. Don't even start me on N*ndos. They have untrained kids cooking your dinner for minimum wage so as to save on the expertise of having trained chefs/cooks. The big branches take in tens of thousands a week and pay their kids £5-6 an hour. They keep all the pooled tips in their bank account earning interest and pay the kids a fraction of what they've earned every three months.  |
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Post by notanimby on Mar 5, 2012 20:47:55 GMT -1
You're obviously aware that these minimum (or less) wage outlets take any till shortfalls out of the hapless employee's wage, then. Don't even start me on N*ndos. They have untrained kids cooking your dinner for minimum wage so as to save on the expertise of having trained chefs/cooks. The big branches take in tens of thousands a week and pay their kids £5-6 an hour. They keep all the pooled tips in their bank account earning interest and pay the kids a fraction of what they've earned every three months. Taking till shortfalls from wages of employees is illegal, unless agreed to by the employee. I have no idea if the said numpty even rang up the correct amount in the first place, he was as bright as a two watt bulb, I was surprised that they even let him near the customers at all - this was around 1996ish Never been to nandos, although mrs nota managed their account with T-mobile when she worked their years ago |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2012 22:04:12 GMT -1
You're obviously aware that these minimum (or less) wage outlets take any till shortfalls out of the hapless employee's wage, then. Don't even start me on N*ndos. They have untrained kids cooking your dinner for minimum wage so as to save on the expertise of having trained chefs/cooks. The big branches take in tens of thousands a week and pay their kids £5-6 an hour. They keep all the pooled tips in their bank account earning interest and pay the kids a fraction of what they've earned every three months. Taking till shortfalls from wages of employees is illegal, unless agreed to by the employee. I have no idea if the said numpty even rang up the correct amount in the first place, he was as bright as a two watt bulb, I was surprised that they even let him near the customers at all - this was around 1996ish Never been to nandos, although mrs nota managed their account with T-mobile when she worked their years ago People are signing up to pretty much any terms and conditions, Nota, just to get the job. N*ndos, McDs, T*sco, even the upmarket H*llister only offer minimum wage (often less) and 16 hours tops, so they evade paying tax and NI on employers' contributions. St*rbucks rota kids on 8 hour shifts, with 40 minute meal breaks. Staff meals are charged at 50% of the retail cost and they'll still be making a healthy profit on that. All the above also charge employees the cost of their 'branded' working uniform. The guy you mention, bright as a two watt bulb-- how many lumens is that, remind me? Some might say good on him for giving it a go, getting out of his bed and trying, despite being badly let down by his school/parents whatever. So much easier to give it victim and sign on the dole. |
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Post by notanimby on Mar 6, 2012 8:31:39 GMT -1
Taking till shortfalls from wages of employees is illegal, unless agreed to by the employee. I have no idea if the said numpty even rang up the correct amount in the first place, he was as bright as a two watt bulb, I was surprised that they even let him near the customers at all - this was around 1996ish Never been to nandos, although mrs nota managed their account with T-mobile when she worked their years ago People are signing up to pretty much any terms and conditions, Nota, just to get the job. N*ndos, McDs, T*sco, even the upmarket H*llister only offer minimum wage (often less) and 16 hours tops, so they evade paying tax and NI on employers' contributions. St*rbucks rota kids on 8 hour shifts, with 40 minute meal breaks. Staff meals are charged at 50% of the retail cost and they'll still be making a healthy profit on that. All the above also charge employees the cost of their 'branded' working uniform. The guy you mention, bright as a two watt bulb-- how many lumens is that, remind me? Some might say good on him for giving it a go, getting out of his bed and trying, despite being badly let down by his school/parents whatever. So much easier to give it victim and sign on the dole. If its a 2 watt incandescent bulbs, they generate 'bout 24 lumens (12 per watt) or even if its 2 watt halogen/led they are a bit more efficient and generate 'bout 80 lumens (40 per watt) just now. As for the McD guy - he shouldn't have been let serve customers if he cannae count their change - probably best (until he had learnt) to just flip the burgers or whatever else they do when not handling a till |
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