[originaltext]A Difficult CalculationA study shows that a group of second year

A Difficult Calculation
A study shows that a group of second year high school students last spring had the same scores on the same maths test that first year students had six years ago. In the opinion of the researchers the main factor influencing this decline is the pupils’ inability to do mental arithmetic as a result of the emphasis on calculators. But the government gave its blessing to the use of calculators in schools in a report published five years ago. The report suggested that not only should calculators be allowed in schools but they should be introduced as a compulsory piece of equipment for every secondary school pupil.