[SENco-forum] Maths

And all that Diennes (have I got the spelling right?) apparatus - where we
worked with all different sorts of bases - octal - etc.

And whatever you might say - pints - and gallons are still around - as are
yards - furlongs - miles (horse racing has not yet gone decimal) - I am
still very interested in carats (metal or carbon!) - and I bet Noah still
thinks in three cubits and a span - and someone - somewhere is still working
in rods, poles and perches.

And farmers around here still talk about bushels!

And my daffodils this year were still dozens.

The best yet was my kitchen units - where the bases came in inches - and the
worktops in cms!

Regards

Ruth

-----Original Message-----
From: senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of
Mmilesep at aol.com
Sent: 24 September 2007 19:42
To: senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk
Subject: Re: [SENco-forum] Maths - but not as we know it

In a message dated 24/09/2007 12:11:53 GMT Daylight Time,  
sen.marketing at dsl.pipex.com writes:

But why  are schools required, in the decimal era, to teach the 11 and 12
times  tables?  

Why not? Should these flexible minds be constrained by the decimal system?  
Above and beyond they should be taken. And why not introduce base six  (say)
- 
the beings that have three fingers on each hand. So much  creativity
possible 
in maths and so many of us shy away from it because we feel  uncomfortable.

There is a wealth of adventure in numbers.

Martin