![]() ![]() Calculus is needed for important subjects such as engineering, physics and… Hmm can’t think what else! Oh yes – more calculus. Parents are more likely to know calculus (though well forgotten) than statistics. But you don’t need to have access to the computer room to do calculus. There are oceans of on-line videos, games and resources to help students. They have taught it for years and don’t need to do anything new. They feel confident in what they are doing. The teachers like Calculus, and fight over who gets to teach it. Ever! Most of the problems are nice and theoretical, so you don’t have to deal with “word problems”. It is elegant, and neat, and you get right answers. ![]() (And for you in the Northern Hemisphere who may be feeling confused, it is currently our summer holidays, and school starts back in early February.) Take CalculusĬalculus is “proper” mathematics. ![]() New Zealand is in the somewhat lonely position of leading the world in this area statistical societies in other countries are watching. The assessment structure for this includes a full statistics subject in the final year for the first time in 2013. (This makes no pretense of being a balanced view – that’s what comments are for!) Note that this is based on the New Zealand curriculum, which has a recently introduced strong emphasis on statistics. Let’s take a look at the alternatives and see if we can help. I suspect their maths teachers are pushing for calculus, whereas their parents appreciate the value of statistics. And both boys are struggling with a dilemma – should they take Calculus or Statistics at school this year. They are both academically capable, with highly educated parents. This post is prompted by two 17 year old boys, Cam and Thomas, who are about to enter year 13, the final year of High school in New Zealand. ![]()
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