Are we at critical maths?

I recently read an article by Richard Prebble (December 16) on why our Year 9 children were failing basic maths questions.

This from the article, as quoted by a principal. “We do not do as well as we did in cultural activities,” he answered. “Our pupils get one chance to learn maths; they have a lifetime to appreciate culture.”

That sums it up succinctly. In a nutshell, that is why our schools are failing. Too much emphasis on culture and not enough on the basics. NCEA was introduced to allow for more New Zealanders of Ma¯ori and Pacific descent to leave school with some form of qualification. Their political words, not mine.

NCEA was structured and made easier so this could happen. However, all children were captured by that downgrade. Another worrying item in the article is some teachers cannot or do not want to teach maths. I suspect this too to be a consequence of placing culture above education even in our teacher training schemes.

From what I have read in the media and heard from people working inside or beside those schemes, that is exactly what is happening. It’s not surprising in the current environment. Nor are the results.

Graham Hansen, Howick.

‘New’ maths

Thank you Richard Prebble for your comments on maths education, that NZ was top in reading and maths in 1970 and is now at the bottom. For many years I have been involved in secondary school maths, but lately have been more involved with primary level. A simple subject has become unnecessarily complicated. People have been tasked with finding different ways to teach maths when current ways were working. Methods used now are often awkward and unwieldy. The student’s reaction is “I don’t like maths” and turning off. The parent’s reaction is “I don’t understand new maths”. Maths is not new. Time to look again at reasons why we teach maths; to give students the skills to solve problems quickly, accurately and enjoyably. To the good principal who has done maths at the expense of cultural activities: be assured maths is involved in every culture. It is a universal language.

M Croucher, Mt Eden.

Appalling abuse

It seems incomprehensible, very sad and an indictment on our society that during more than 70 years of child abuse in state and church-managed boys’ and girls’ homes and orphanages ( NZ Herald, December 17) that not one man or woman seems to have spoken out to stop it. Management must have known or had an inkling this abuse was occurring.

It must rank as one of the darkest days in New Zealand history and a disgrace. Vulnerable children’s lives were ruined forever. Someone, somewhere, must be held accountable. No amount of financial compensation will right these wrongs.

Bruce Tubb, Belmont.

Wealth gap

Correspondent Susan Grimsdell ( NZ Herald, December 17) is correct. Wage earners pay income tax but investors pay no income tax when they sell their investments at a profit. The unfair tax system is driving the wealth gap ever wider. One tax that catches everyone, including investors and foreign tourists is GST. If the Government is afraid of imposing a capital gains tax, why not increase the GST rate and decrease the income tax rate? No new taxes; only an adjustment to existing tax rates to make them fairer to wage-earners.

John Caldwell, Howick

Mallard’s gaffe

Your editorial ( NZ Herald, December 16) didn’t touch on the very heightened awareness of unacceptable, predatory behaviour of Members of Parliament this year, which could very well have set the scene for the gaffe.

You do note, however, National leader Judith Collins stressing she will not let the matter rest, which is an audacious move on her part, as she was part of the National Party’s dilemma over two of their members found wanting in their behaviour toward women; Jami-Lee Ross for “toxic sexual affairs” and Andrew Falloon sending sexually explicit messages.

It is unfortunate and wrong to accuse anyone of something they did not do and extremely humiliating. It happens; not often, and it’s worrying. But it’s a world right now where a few men are found wanting, downloading porn, enjoying strip joints, getting away with inappropriate behaviour. It reflects on the majority of our good men and it shouldn’t.

Also, you state the Mallard saga would injure the “MeToo” movement. Trevor Mallard was incorrect. He was inappropriate. He pointed the finger at the wrong person. All that is true, but he did it at a sensitive time. The MeToo movement may quietly applaud him for that, or not.

Emma Mackintosh, Birkenhead.

Wondrous words

It was with piquant delight that I read Emily Baragwanath’s article “Defending Classics” ( NZ Herald, December 16).

Many years ago, I majored in Latin at the University of Auckland and it was a constant cause of frustration for me that so many people would ask me why I was studying such a “useless” subject.

It took me some time before I thought up an appropriate retort, namely: “If you feel compelled to ask me this question, it is very likely you will not understand my answer”.

I strongly hope that Latin, Greek and the Classics are retained and indeed nurtured in our education of young people as an excellent means of opening up their minds and imagination to more wonders than can be enumerated.

Sandra Burgering, Gisborne.

Language pathway

I was educated at a high school in the UK and had the opportunity to learn Latin but, in my youthful reckoning, it was a dead language, so I fell in love with French. My mother took me, aged 15, to a family in the Loire Valley for a month. With the ability to absorb so much at that age, I soon became fluent and followed it up with GCE and later to advanced French and Commercial French.

I learned Spanish in my 30s because my husband was planning on working in South America. I have a god-daughter living in Italy with her husband and children and did a crash course in Italian before visiting them.

All these languages have their origins in Latin. When you know root names of things it helps with so many languages.

At the ripe old age of 81, I am seriously considering learning Latin.

I do wish I had learned Latin at school. Locally, I suppose we should all learn Ma¯ori but, however important that is to our country, it is not spoken much overseas. Marian Harkness, rewa. O¯

Put paid

I have just listened to Michael Woodhouse oppose raising the minimum wage, due to come into effect next year.

How things have changed in such a short time. Only a few months ago these low-wage employees were being lauded for their efforts which were crucial during lockdown. Now suddenly they are not and he says the wage increase will seriously hurt businesses and will not contribute to the economy. Does he really believe that the extra wages will not be spent locally? The extra dollars these workers earn could be critical to their households and be the difference between just existing and having a slightly improved life.

Comments such as his really make me sceptical of all those politicians who profess their main reason for entering their profession was to help people and then act in a manner which does the opposite.

Garry Bond, Hastings.

Chaos reigns

Auckland Transport, aka, the Masters of Chaos, have struck again in my suburban street. The notice advising me to park my car elsewhere for a few days, [not in my street or garage] was signed by “Liveable Streets”.

Not content with ripping up all the perfectly serviceable crossings in the street, they have exceeded my initial fears by ripping out all the fibre connections. Then, going back the next day, and ripping out all the copper connections as well.

Liveable Streets staff have been sitting in the glorious sun, enjoying the day, waiting for something, anything, to happen.

The apologies in advance for “any inconvenience caused” are cynical. Please, can I have my crossing, garage, internet, phone, and sanity back soon?

Rob Elliott, Kohimarama.