Global Schooling

[threaded]

On one of my first jobs they taught me in excruciating detail how to use a 'Pilot ballon slide rule'.

[Paddy]

Did anyone here use a slide rule in earnest? I remember being taught to use log tables at school, although I just caught the end of that as calculators were available, but not able to be used in exams. Although come t think of it, by the time exams did come up, calculators were allowed. Or maybe I'm mixing them not being allowed at 'O'' level and being allowed at 'A' level.

Still have my log tables book complete with graffiti. Used slide rule (now lost) in O’ level course but not exam in 60s.

Also did technical drawing, metalwork (lathe forge etc)
German and optional Russian languages.
Do kids do that at 12+ years these days?

[TimberWolf]

Still have my log tables book complete with graffiti. Used slide rule (now lost) in O’ level course but not exam in 60s.

Also did technical drawing, metalwork (lathe forge etc)
German and optional Russian languages.
Do kids do that at 12+ years these days?

I've still got the compass I used in TD (technical drawing) classes. I suspect I would have kept the slide rule if I'd ever owned one, so they were perhaps handed out in lessons or something. Not sure about log books, but I don't have any now.

Maths was quite advanced at (a good) primary school (Alpha and Beta books, anyone remember those?), but at comprehensive we did 'SMP maths' which was useless.

[Tarquin Farquhar]

I used to have a slide rule. Aristo Scholar, good basic model, cost 21s.

There is one on ebay right now, closing 4h, no bids, £6. Hasn't held its value against inflation.

[EternalOptimist]

My maths teacher was an astronomy buff.
He was very easy to side track and the stuff he knew was interesting and informative.

best education I ever had

[pzz76077]

I got taught the Trachtenberg system of basic maths when I was at school.

Im still astounded that such a simple system is not universally taught in every school around the world.

For those that are not familiar with the system: http://mathforum.org/dr.math/faq/faq.trachten.html


PZZ

[Cliphead]

I still have my old Jeppeson circular slide rule a retired Hurricane pilot gave me when I started learning to fly in 1976.