Mind Gym

Lola is naturally quite good at maths but hates the discipline because it’s so booooring.

I cut her a metaphor that’s worth repeating…

I said, name a sport, any sport.

She nominated swimming.

I added, how do Olympic swimmers train?

She said, they swim laps.

I said, what else?

She drew a blank.

I suggested the gym, just about all professional sports people spend hours in the gym toning their muscles.

She counters, so what?

I answered, maths is the mind gym. You might never practice maths in the real world just like sportspeople never do gym-offs, but maths is the most efficient means to tone up the brain muscle and that is a good thing no matter what you end up doing.

A great metaphor me-thinks.

She blurted, I don’t care I still don’t like it.

I wrapped it up, I am not here to get your unthinking compliance, rather I am subversively putting thoughts into your skull so that later on they will magically work their design. Next year you will find yourself strangely beavering away in maths classes, knowing it has a purpose.

She had the final word, you want to bet?

I change the subject.

PS I wonder if we adults shouldn’t all do a couple of sessions of maths a week? Maybe down the pub after the gym.