MSE News: MPs' report calls for financial education in schools

Person_one

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I don't think that the only point of education is for it to be useful.

For most subjects I'd agree with you wholeheartedly, but...maths?

Anyone who derives great joy from pure maths and wants to make it their life's pursuit will likely do so despite having to wait until AS to do calculus.

The number of people who would benefit from applied maths related to managing personal finances is far far greater.

amiehall

Person_one wrote: »

For most subjects I'd agree with you wholeheartedly, but...maths?

Anyone who derives great joy from pure maths and wants to make it their life's pursuit will likely do so despite having to wait until AS to do calculus.

The number of people who would benefit from applied maths related to managing personal finances is far far greater.

But the kind of maths related to finance is hugely basic. Percentages?? What other sorts of things are we talking about? Adding and subtracting numbers from one another? This is computing numbers, it's not maths.

Person_one

amiehall wrote: »

But the kind of maths related to finance is hugely basic. Percentages?? What other sorts of things are we talking about? Adding and subtracting numbers from one another? This is computing numbers, it's not maths.

Then why are so many people completely unable to manage their money despite being able to add and subtract?

Oldernotwiser

Person_one wrote: »

Then why are so many people completely unable to manage their money despite being able to add and subtract?

For the same reasons that we have the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe, despite masses of education about contraception. It isn't the mechanics that's the problem in either case.

pennineman

Maybe if Govt.s left ed. to the education professionals then we might have an educated population. As it is the NC and targets, targets, targets lead to an "education" in meeting targets and passing exams. Which is not the same as an education. And whenever there is a perceived problem in society (which of course does not exist any linger) the answer is once again slap something else into the curriculum, usually with little thought and little consultation. Grrr.