14 July 2009

Innumeracy

A family-run haberdashers is forced to turn away 90 per cent of job applicants, because they are unable to do simple sums. The Remnant Shop has a company rule that staff must be able to mentally add, subtract, multiply and divide on the spot. In the past, eight out of ten made the grade. Now just one in ten can cut it...

"My grandfather Sydney Bamberger could add up a column of 50 figures in old pounds, shillings and pennies – including ha'pennies and farthings – in a matter of seconds. He used to insist that any staff we took on could do the same – and we have carried on that practice."

"He used to insist that any staff we took on could do the same – and we have carried on that practice."

"Nowadays this means we turn away more than nine in 10 people who come to us for a job who would otherwise be suitable.

"It is a sorry situation and a poor reflection on the academic qualities of young people these days."

Kudos to the shop for maintaining its quality standards. Via Arbroath.

2 comments:

  1. My dad wouldn't hire a worker in the warehouse where he was foreman if that person couldn't add three or four ... two or three digit numbers in his head.

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  2. You know what?

    I understand that mathematical literacy is important.

    That being said, some people have serious trouble with math. I do. I have way serious trouble with math.

    I'm not going to apply for a job where spot-math is required, but I will say that this seems less a heroic stand for mathematical literacy and more of a dick move by a dick.

    -Darren MacLennan

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