Learning by rote gives children a gift for life
SIR – Rote learning (Letters, January 28) seems to have many critics, who argue that now we have modern technology we don’t need it, but it provides portable wisdom. Consider, for instance, Longfellow’s wonderful 1855 poem The Song of Hiawatha, which was passed down by rote learning at a time when many people were unable to read or write. There are many such examples throughout the world, which would have been lost to future generations if they had not been learnt by heart.
Children who memorise their times tables carry with them something that is useful and valuable for the rest of their lives, and the mental exercise of learning something by heart helps the young to develop their mental capacity. Prosper Paul Sheffield, South Yorkshire
SIR – My late father loved history. I didn’t, but he did manage to teach me how to remember the all the
SIR – Janet Ratcliffe (Letters, January 28) describes feeling old after downloading a supposedly “historical” thriller, which turned out to be set in the 1960s.
I feel the same when radio presenters introduce Beatles’ songs as “golden oldies”. I was 15 in 1963 when the Beatles became household names. David Harrison Reading, Berkshire
SIR – I don’t know about Janet Ratcliffe, but I feel old every time my own name is used.
I am not aware of any well-known Janets apart from Janet Jackson, and she is now 57.
Tudor and Stuart monarchs: Harry, Harry, Ted, Mary, Liz, Jim, Charlie, Common, Charlie, Jim, Bill and Mary, Anne.
How I wish he had continued with the other monarchs. Ann Runacres Ullenhall, Warwickshire
SIR – Many years ago, when teaching at a primary school, I introduced my Year 3 class to the joys of poetry. By Friday afternoon, every child had to learn a poem, which they would then recite to the rest of the class. By the end of the school year many of the class were delivering poems such as Alfred Noyes’s The Highwayman, which has more than 40 lines.
When I had retired, to my great pleasure I met several former pupils at a wedding. All of them said how much they had enjoyed those sessions, which had instilled in them a lifetime’s love of poetry. Christine Baldock Colsterworth, Lincolnshire
Where are all the young Janets? Are there any out there? Janet Wilson Tregavethan, Cornwell
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