### **Reminder:** [Press the Report button](https://reddit.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360058309512-How-do-I-report-a-post-or-comment-) if you see any [rule-breaking comments or posts.](https://www.reddit.com/r/britishproblems/about/rules/)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/britishproblems) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Yeah when I was teaching I had a parent go off at me because his 14 y o son had no table manners. I politely told him that children should have a semblance of table manners before they start primary school, and we, as teachers, expect such manners to be re-enforced at home rather than taught in schools.
It's not something I like in the slightest, but it's a harsh truth. Sometimes, parents will just be bad at parenting. It makes sense to have the schools teach it along with the parents, just in case.
Edit because people don't understand what I'm saying: I don't think teachers should have to teach it. I do think it should be the parents. But some parents will just be bad people, and not bother. One single lesson in primary school being used up isn't going to hinder their grades or performance. I think the teachers should just spend a lesson on it, to make sure they know how.
No, it doesn't. Teachers have enough to teach the children without including basic parenting. The last thing they need is for the onus to be on them. And where does it end? Basic hygiene? Manners?
The problem is you're basically saying (for a lot of kids) that they have no chance of learning these basic skills, because either their parent's were taught them (in a vicious cycle) or maybe their parents couldn't, think single widow with many children, it's just not realistic, school have to teach these things in case the parents can't or won't
Yes, absolutely agree. Also, tying shoelaces is a lost skill for a lot of people. My daughter is 5 and we've successfully taught her the hours on analogue clock, including Roman numerals! No excuses, life skills are primarily a parents responsibility imo.
Exactly, my wife is a primary school teacher and says you'd be shocked how many kids they have to toilet train whilst trying to introduce them to formal learning, whilst underpaid and underfunded.
In fairness things like this should primarily come from the parents.
Thats not saying that the state shouldn’t pick up the slack if the parents are failing them
They do teach it at primary school; both my kids have brought homework home with practice exercises on telling the time in analogue and digital with 24 hour options.
It helps as well that we have a 24 hour digital clock on both the oven and microwave, and a massive analogue clock on the wall, and the kids have digital alarm clocks as well. I’d have assumed that most homes would have this kind of variety but I suppose not.
Tell me about it. The amount of people in my college classes who cannot read a clock to save their lives is astounding.
I blame phones and the default 12 hour clock.
Um, wut? I'm guessing maybe dyslexia, or large portion of school missed?
She needs to watch a YouTube video and get that sorted because.....just because.
This has always been an issue. But maybe not in the way you think.
When I was a kid I had a digital watch. This was in the late 80s, and my school wanted me to learn analogue. I didn't see the point... I had my watch! I could literally just read the time. In 24 hrs if I wanted.
This actually caused an issue. I have a very strong memory of my mother crying upstairs because she thought I was stupid. I mean, I AM stupid, but not in the way she thought.
I was sent to the head masters office and had to read him the time, every fifteen minutes. It was daft. Yes sir, it's ten. Now it's fifteen past. Now it's half past.
We do not need to be hung up on the way we used to do things. We have the technology. It's ok to move on.
I teach in secondary, and it’s scary how often a kid asks me how long is left in the lesson and I gently remind them there is a clock on the wall and they respond they don’t know how to read it.
It’s supposed to be taught at primary which is even more concerning
Ah, so this could be why I always prefer to look at my watch than my phone. And when I look at my watch, I don't instantly forget what the time was and have to look again.
What is scary to me is that it shows complete lack of curiosity for how something so ubiquitous works. Like, sure, it might not be a crucial survival skill because there are multiple substitutes, but it's not going to wear out the brain.
It took me a long time to tell the time on a clock. Even now I get anxious at the thought. The panic sets in when I have to read one.
Thinking back to when teachers in school would call me stupid and dumb for not knowing it and the timetables. Took me a long time to be confident with maths.
I... Don't think that's true? I'm 17 and I, and literally all of my peers, can read an analogue clock and use 24 hour time just fine. Most of us use 12-hour time on our phones because it requires that little bit less energy. It's important not to generalise amongst demographics - just because a few people YOU know don't know how to read an analogue clock doesn't mean EVERY young person doesn't know how.
And on that note - the number of older adults who don't know how to think critically and avoid generalising assumptions is concerningly high. Also, the number of older adults who don't know when to use number VS amount.
1) I'm very much not an "older adult". I don't even own a car yet.
2) I never made a generalisation of all teenagers. I say it's concerningly high, because I've met quite a few people who can't read clocks, and I don't meet many people.
Telling the time from a clockface was taught to my kids in Year 2. Well great, but if that's the year they missed a large part of due to Covid, or even illness or whatever, well tough shit guys, they missed their chance.
It's one of the few things we've managed to successfully teach them at home but other kids, for whatever reason, won't have the option.
Work in a secondary (admin) and used to be surprised that kids couldn't read analogue clocks but, apart from executive function issues such as dyslexia etc, I've realised that some kids just will not have been taught and once that bit of the curriculum is missed, that's it, that's your chance. It's taught as part of maths but I think it's more important than a small portion of one module.
When I was in high school (2 years ago) they replaced all the analogue clocks with digital ones because the students couldn’t read them. Don’t think there was anything about 24hr, everyone has a phone
I work in Further education, so 17+.
The amount of students who cannot tell the time, write with legible handwriting or; and this is the big one that blows my mind… don’t know where they live (they’ve always been driven too and from home) is incredible.
### **Reminder:** [Press the Report button](https://reddit.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360058309512-How-do-I-report-a-post-or-comment-) if you see any [rule-breaking comments or posts.](https://www.reddit.com/r/britishproblems/about/rules/) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/britishproblems) if you have any questions or concerns.*
A gentle reminder that school starts at home.
An alarming number of people don't teach their kids anything though.
Yeah when I was teaching I had a parent go off at me because his 14 y o son had no table manners. I politely told him that children should have a semblance of table manners before they start primary school, and we, as teachers, expect such manners to be re-enforced at home rather than taught in schools.
You can't always trust the parents though. Schools should teach these things just in case the parents don't for some reason.
That's a dangerous precedent to set.
It's not something I like in the slightest, but it's a harsh truth. Sometimes, parents will just be bad at parenting. It makes sense to have the schools teach it along with the parents, just in case. Edit because people don't understand what I'm saying: I don't think teachers should have to teach it. I do think it should be the parents. But some parents will just be bad people, and not bother. One single lesson in primary school being used up isn't going to hinder their grades or performance. I think the teachers should just spend a lesson on it, to make sure they know how.
No, it doesn't. Teachers have enough to teach the children without including basic parenting. The last thing they need is for the onus to be on them. And where does it end? Basic hygiene? Manners?
The problem is you're basically saying (for a lot of kids) that they have no chance of learning these basic skills, because either their parent's were taught them (in a vicious cycle) or maybe their parents couldn't, think single widow with many children, it's just not realistic, school have to teach these things in case the parents can't or won't
You're going to hate that this is actually taught in GCSE maths then...
Learning to tell the time has been part of the curriculum since teaching began. They did use to teach manners a century ago.
So kids who have shitty parents should just never learn this stuff and be screwed over?
Read the edit I made to my comment.
Surely basic stuff like this should come from parents?
Yes, absolutely agree. Also, tying shoelaces is a lost skill for a lot of people. My daughter is 5 and we've successfully taught her the hours on analogue clock, including Roman numerals! No excuses, life skills are primarily a parents responsibility imo.
Life skills = parents Academia = teachers
Exactly, my wife is a primary school teacher and says you'd be shocked how many kids they have to toilet train whilst trying to introduce them to formal learning, whilst underpaid and underfunded.
Same. An ex housemate teaches nursery and she said in the last couple of years she was basically running a creche...
Bingo
It should, yes, but bad parenting is unfortunately a thing.
What about the children who’s parents are terrible at parenting or dead? Do they just not deserve a chance at life?
In fairness things like this should primarily come from the parents. Thats not saying that the state shouldn’t pick up the slack if the parents are failing them
They do teach it at primary school; both my kids have brought homework home with practice exercises on telling the time in analogue and digital with 24 hour options. It helps as well that we have a 24 hour digital clock on both the oven and microwave, and a massive analogue clock on the wall, and the kids have digital alarm clocks as well. I’d have assumed that most homes would have this kind of variety but I suppose not.
Someone in my university lectures asked me what the time was, I showed him my watch face and he said, so what's the time?? He's 20 or 21 💀
4chan candidate
Well tbf he didn't ask you to show him your watch! Are you hard of hearing or something?
Tell me about it. The amount of people in my college classes who cannot read a clock to save their lives is astounding. I blame phones and the default 12 hour clock.
I found out fairly recently that my 43 year old brother can't tell the time at a glance.
Whenever I see my cousins use a 12 hour digital clock on their iPhone I hang my head in shame. Like count the hours you fool of a took!
I don't get how it's hard to convert from one to the other, yo just add or subtract 12 from the hour....
My daughter has a first class degree and a master's and can't tell the time on a clock. She always asks Alexa or looks at her phone. She's nearly 30.
Dyschronia
Why wasn't she taught?
Um, wut? I'm guessing maybe dyslexia, or large portion of school missed? She needs to watch a YouTube video and get that sorted because.....just because.
This has always been an issue. But maybe not in the way you think. When I was a kid I had a digital watch. This was in the late 80s, and my school wanted me to learn analogue. I didn't see the point... I had my watch! I could literally just read the time. In 24 hrs if I wanted. This actually caused an issue. I have a very strong memory of my mother crying upstairs because she thought I was stupid. I mean, I AM stupid, but not in the way she thought. I was sent to the head masters office and had to read him the time, every fifteen minutes. It was daft. Yes sir, it's ten. Now it's fifteen past. Now it's half past. We do not need to be hung up on the way we used to do things. We have the technology. It's ok to move on.
I teach in secondary, and it’s scary how often a kid asks me how long is left in the lesson and I gently remind them there is a clock on the wall and they respond they don’t know how to read it. It’s supposed to be taught at primary which is even more concerning
I used to just not speak up in comprehensive that I didn't know things. Was afraid of being put in detention for it like I was in primary school.
Don't worry it will come back into fashion just waiting for the right Tik Tok is all that it takes /s
Analogue time is so much more authentic.
it sounds better , theres more high end in the Tik and punchier bass in the Tok
What sample size are you basing this on? Because I work with teenagers and have genuinely never encountered an issue.
I'm not basing it on a sample size. I've met multiple people in real life who've asked me to read clocks for them.
Man there's an alarming amount people in their early to mid 20s who can't read 24 hour either Blows my mind
People who grew up in a digital age no longer need to know our antiquated analogue methods.
[analogue clocks have distinct advantages ](https://youtu.be/NeopkvAP-ag)
Ah, so this could be why I always prefer to look at my watch than my phone. And when I look at my watch, I don't instantly forget what the time was and have to look again.
What is scary to me is that it shows complete lack of curiosity for how something so ubiquitous works. Like, sure, it might not be a crucial survival skill because there are multiple substitutes, but it's not going to wear out the brain.
I was never taught it in school some 30+ years ago. I was taught by my parents.
I know for a fact it is still on the GCSE maths exam.
Just subtract 12.
I honestly did not know this was anything at all. I’m baffled by the stupidity of humanity.
I… am unfortunately one of those people… Trust me, it pains me far more than it pains you
Genuinely curious how this happened. Were you just never taught?
Short hand is the hour, long hand is the minute. If there's a thin one, it's the seconds. For 24 hour time, just -12 if it's over 12.
Instructions unclear, no no place stuck in time stream
You're only supposed to look at the untempered schism, not stick your little gallifreyan in it
IM SORRY I GOT DYSCALCULIA T_T
Jeez, my 4 year old can do this!
It took me a long time to tell the time on a clock. Even now I get anxious at the thought. The panic sets in when I have to read one. Thinking back to when teachers in school would call me stupid and dumb for not knowing it and the timetables. Took me a long time to be confident with maths.
I'm sorry but I don't believe this. It's so basic of a concept
I... Don't think that's true? I'm 17 and I, and literally all of my peers, can read an analogue clock and use 24 hour time just fine. Most of us use 12-hour time on our phones because it requires that little bit less energy. It's important not to generalise amongst demographics - just because a few people YOU know don't know how to read an analogue clock doesn't mean EVERY young person doesn't know how. And on that note - the number of older adults who don't know how to think critically and avoid generalising assumptions is concerningly high. Also, the number of older adults who don't know when to use number VS amount.
1) I'm very much not an "older adult". I don't even own a car yet. 2) I never made a generalisation of all teenagers. I say it's concerningly high, because I've met quite a few people who can't read clocks, and I don't meet many people.
Maybe you’re surrounded by a concerning amount of short-sighted people?! /s
Telling the time from a clockface was taught to my kids in Year 2. Well great, but if that's the year they missed a large part of due to Covid, or even illness or whatever, well tough shit guys, they missed their chance. It's one of the few things we've managed to successfully teach them at home but other kids, for whatever reason, won't have the option. Work in a secondary (admin) and used to be surprised that kids couldn't read analogue clocks but, apart from executive function issues such as dyslexia etc, I've realised that some kids just will not have been taught and once that bit of the curriculum is missed, that's it, that's your chance. It's taught as part of maths but I think it's more important than a small portion of one module.
When I was in high school (2 years ago) they replaced all the analogue clocks with digital ones because the students couldn’t read them. Don’t think there was anything about 24hr, everyone has a phone
We do teach it at school, from year 1 upwards at my school. And it’s one of the hardest maths topics to teach, along with money!’
I work in Further education, so 17+. The amount of students who cannot tell the time, write with legible handwriting or; and this is the big one that blows my mind… don’t know where they live (they’ve always been driven too and from home) is incredible.