Sir, – Hugh McDermott's statement that "too many teachers drive a fear of maths" is a very broad one (August 24th). I disagree.
As a teacher of maths, I regularly advise parents to refrain from telling their children that “I could never do maths”, or “I was no good at maths in school”.
This provides an opt-out for students, and their subsequent poor results are forgiven. It is all too often parents who instil a fear of maths, and it is teachers who have to try and convince students that maths is doable, challenging, important and enjoyable.
There are many reasons why our students are failing. The easy target is rarely the right one. – Yours, etc,
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ELAINE DEVLIN,
Drogheda,
Co Louth.