Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 8:37 pm
Surely the description of 'vedic' (whatever it's origins) maths should be dependent on whether it works or not rather than based on the personality of an individual who taught it.
Most schools don't teach geometry or trig either but they come in dead handy in the oddest situations - like working out the most economic amount of patterned fabric to buy for a round tablecloth - made me look a genius in comparison to my state educated classmates when I got to 6th form until they asked me for help with their O level statistics problems.
As usual it's a problem of balance, an excess of anything is bad for you in some way and an emphasis on a particular brand of learning at the expense of the 'norm' is counter productive.
Most schools don't teach geometry or trig either but they come in dead handy in the oddest situations - like working out the most economic amount of patterned fabric to buy for a round tablecloth - made me look a genius in comparison to my state educated classmates when I got to 6th form until they asked me for help with their O level statistics problems.
As usual it's a problem of balance, an excess of anything is bad for you in some way and an emphasis on a particular brand of learning at the expense of the 'norm' is counter productive.