Sam. said:
I had an argument with one of my friends about this subject. He's a maths nerd - lives and breathes the stuff - but couldn't write an analytical essay if his life depended on it. He thinks that maths should be compulsory, as it's just as important as english. I think english is more important on a different level. English, you are certainly going to use for the rest of your life; you have to communicate - verbally, physically and in writing. The skills you learn in english you will use every day for the rest of your years. Maths on the other hand (while essential at a basic level) I don't think is as important. Yes, I agree with students having to learn those "skills, methods and logical thinking" practices, but you don't need the level of maths that we study in Year 12 to lead a practical life. Most of those are developed in the lower years. Those who do not have a mathematically functioning brain find it impossible to comprehend a lot of the maths courses, and depending on the career they wish to follow, find it useless.
I actually did an assignment (in Year 8 or something) on the aspects of maths that different people used later in life. I think about 80% of people never used the maths studied in Year 11 and 12. The other 20% were mathematicians, doctors, scientists and vets. BUT, 100% of them have to use the english skills they learnt in high school. Probably not the actual "themes and techniques" and literature that they studied, but the skills they developed from writing and discussing these concepts are always being used.
Anyway, I agree with the idea that Mountain.Dew had - to create a basic course that is based primarily on vocabulary and grammar, not on analysis and creativity. Maths on the other hand, I don't think should be mandatory. Not everyone's brain works in a mathematical manner, so they should not be made to force it to.