DT> Your field is math.  I have asked at our school why kids don't learn 
 DT> their basic math facts (8x8= etc...).  I was told 
 DT> that many are not able 
 DT> to grasp it.  They begin teaching it in 3rd grade.  I asked the 3rd 
 DT> grade teachers if their kids were getting it.  The 
 DT> answer was that most 
 DT> could not get all the facts memorized and those 
I think they don't memorize them because its almost too late. The addition 
and subtraction should be mastered in 1st and 2nd, the times table in the 
third.  In England, facts are mastered a whole year ahead of the US as Kinder 
is for 4yr olds and 5yr olds are in first. Probably would make some great 
observer roll over in his grave.  
 
This was true in England in the 50's and earlier, as my wife is from there 
and I have questioned her "mum" as to earlier education practices.
 
Don't feel bad about the higher math, the way our system has and is set up, 
it weeds out those who don't understand (but could) and lets only those that 
already understand go on. To me, that is a great tragedy of our educational 
process.
--- Maximus 2.02
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