Figure 1.--Maths is one of the most important subjects. This boy repeats a scene that takes place all over the world, working on a math problem at chalk board in front of the class. His father did the same, only the chalk board was black.
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Figure 1.--Maths is one of the most important subjects. This boy repeats a scene that takes place all over the world, working on a math problem at chalk board in front of the class. His father did the same, only the chalk board was black. |
Numeracy skills are essential. There is a great debate in modern education as to how maths should be taught. Unlike some other subject, math teachers need considerable ingenuity on how to make math interesting. One of the major problems teachers face is the wide desparity of math skills among children in classes that are not streamed by ability.
This year a classful of talented individuals from 4BL and 4HY opted to take on the difficult task of passing School Certificate mathematics a year early. It was going to be tough the fourth and fifth form courses would have to be learned in one year. Although
this seems tough, we started well under the watchful eye of Ms. Flewellyn; when she left
at the end of term 1, the irrepressible Mr. Ford became our teacher. This School Certificate maths class worked well throughout the year, with only minor upsets and disturbances. By the time you read this, we will have sat the three-hour examination and, said Mr Ford, "I guarantee that everyone will pass."
Next year the class will undertake sixth form mathematics and, the year after that, seventh form calculus or statistics. Good luck to all of us!
Sam Calvert, Lymphad, 1993
On July 25, the Petrocorp Taranaki Mathematics Spectacular competition night was held at the Westpoint Complex. FDMC entered two teams of third formers and two teams of fourth formers.
Competition was fierce in both levels with up to twenty teams in each. After the competition the FDMC A team was declared the winner. This is a great achievement and the team members Richard Crowe, Conrad Smith, David Dence and Tom Mace were presented with the trophy and prizemoney. The contest was enjoyed by all who took part.
Richard Crowe, Francis Douglas Memorial College, 1996
