Maths an albatross for many pupils

Prof Jonathan Jansen’s column “Maths so much more than numbers” (September 22) has reference.

While I respect him as an astute academic, I beg to differ on his viewpoint that all high school pupils should do maths.

Our Creator has endowed all of us with a wide range of gifts.

Some are gifted with an affinity for maths and natural sciences.

Others have been blessed to excel in the arts, while others are inclined towards languages and social sciences.

To discard this fact of life would be folly.

I did maths many, many moons ago in matric.

What I have used from maths in my post-matric life is not worth mentioning.

When I think back, I had wasted valuable time crunching through maths.

To underline this, I hold a master’s degree in public administration.

A few years ago, my granddaughter struggled through maths in her matric year to gain university entrance for a law degree.

Ironically, she excelled by achieving As in three languages and history.

Why must so many pupils suffer because of this unreasonable requirement by our universities?

Do you really need maths for studies in language, music or social sciences? I think not.

One of the unintended consequences of this overzealous promotion of maths at all cost is that you are perceived to be dumb if you do not take maths as a subject in high school.

Allow those gifted towards natural sciences and maths to enrol for degrees in those fields.

Let those who are gifted in other fields do so without the albatross of maths around their necks.

Matrics without maths have nothing to be ashamed of.

Our country also needs artisans, artists, sociologists, historians, anthropologists and language teachers, among others, to have a balanced society.

Pupils should be allowed to enjoy school, not hate it, because of maths!

Pupils should be allowed to enjoy school, not hate it, because of maths’