Mathematically practically illiterate? Would seem so.
Tuesday, 25 February 2003 22:44![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
apollaIn my possible quest to train to be a teacher (which I'll probably at least apply to. Movie stardom doesn't seem to be happening), I downloaded the programmes on canteach.gov.uk for their so-called New Labour soundbite sounding 'Benchmark Tests'. Took the literacy test. Fabbo. Only probs with stuff which IMO could've gone either way. Even the spreadsheet bit on the ICT test was cool, and I know niente about spreadsheets.
Then I took the numeracy test. Out of twenty eight, I got ten. I needed to get 60%. I don't know how many that is, but it's more than ten (See, maths Clare can do!).
The first part was listening to a chick read out mental arithmetic questions. Two out of ten, I think. I hope you're allowed to write down your workings too.
And as for the rest, I've never even seen a 'whisker' diagram before, so how am I meant to know how to use it? The last time I heard the phrase 'mean average' I was sixteen and only pretending to listen. Hell, I spent my maths lessons daydreaming about being a movie star and being able to pay someone to do maths for me. I mean, come the hell on! I can't even tell the time! What hope do I have of becoming a teacher if even Key Stage 2/3 maths is beyond me? How I got a C level GCSE I don't know. Must've had a calculator with me. How can I possibly expect to be a teacher of any sort if I'm as fucking dumb as that? I've always walked around the world feeling very smug and intelligent (I know what words like lascivious mean and I can use 'exemplify' in everyday speech). And now I know I'm wrong.
And I spent three hours (nearly) in the library today in a quest to do some of my dissertation and walked out with about three or four sides written. They're utter crap. I mean, I know more than I'd like to about Jim Morrison and I'm incapable or writing about him? I go on about him enough for God's sake! I shouldn't even be here. I should be back at home stacking shelves at Sainsburys. Just so long as they don't ask me to count what I'm stacking, I should be fine.
In short, I'm both screwed and stupid.
Then I took the numeracy test. Out of twenty eight, I got ten. I needed to get 60%. I don't know how many that is, but it's more than ten (See, maths Clare can do!).
The first part was listening to a chick read out mental arithmetic questions. Two out of ten, I think. I hope you're allowed to write down your workings too.
And as for the rest, I've never even seen a 'whisker' diagram before, so how am I meant to know how to use it? The last time I heard the phrase 'mean average' I was sixteen and only pretending to listen. Hell, I spent my maths lessons daydreaming about being a movie star and being able to pay someone to do maths for me. I mean, come the hell on! I can't even tell the time! What hope do I have of becoming a teacher if even Key Stage 2/3 maths is beyond me? How I got a C level GCSE I don't know. Must've had a calculator with me. How can I possibly expect to be a teacher of any sort if I'm as fucking dumb as that? I've always walked around the world feeling very smug and intelligent (I know what words like lascivious mean and I can use 'exemplify' in everyday speech). And now I know I'm wrong.
And I spent three hours (nearly) in the library today in a quest to do some of my dissertation and walked out with about three or four sides written. They're utter crap. I mean, I know more than I'd like to about Jim Morrison and I'm incapable or writing about him? I go on about him enough for God's sake! I shouldn't even be here. I should be back at home stacking shelves at Sainsburys. Just so long as they don't ask me to count what I'm stacking, I should be fine.
In short, I'm both screwed and stupid.
