Poem 24 of 30. 2 x 12 = 24.

Poem 24 of 30.     2 x 12 = 24.

Did you learn your Times Tables at school?

I did. They were learned by rote, chanted

to the beat of a ruler tapping the teachers

desk, anyone unfortunate enough to say

the wrong number was told

“Put your hands on your head,

the teacher would hit your hands with

her ruler, then you had to say the whole

of the table on your own.

It did not pay to lose concentration.

We always said to each other “What

use is Maths, we won’t need it when

we leave school”. That was childish

wishing. Of course, we need to have

knowledge of Maths, our time's tables

form the basis of calculation.

Can you remember - 7 x 9?

Or 9 x 8?   ???

I can't!!

NOTE: I began school in September 1943.