3 of 4

Write now Article Tools

Rote learning is where pupils learn long lists of facts or figures or sums and can recite them from memory. Whilst this is useful in learning some basic things, such as times table or the alphabet, where it is the only form of teaching and learning used it is narrow and restrictive and does not teach children to think or how to apply that information.

Many people will remember singing their times tables or the alphabet forty or fifty years ago and I bet that they can still immediately tell the price of twelve items at 4p each (48p). It is an effective tool for learning such information but, as with all tools, rote learning used to the exclusion of other methods brings troubles of its own. Rote learning by itself brings no understanding. The best teaching of multiplication tables combines rote learning with a practical demonstration showing what for example 2 times 2 looks like and that 2 times two is always the same whether one is talking about people, oranges, elephants or yards of sand.

It used to be that children were taught to memorize long lists of dates for history but history is boring if presented in this manner. It is far more interesting, memorable and enlightening to visit a museum, or attend an enactment of a historical event, or perhaps when dealing with recent history to have a pupil's Grandma or Grandpa come in and tell the class how life was. If lessons are boring, children find it difficult to learn and there is no merit in learning lots of facts to regurgitate them at exam time and then to never take an interest in the subject again.

In France, where rote learning has long been the method of teaching and learning, there is much debate amongst educationalists over whether it is the right way to teach children. The general opinion is that because rote learning does not teach a child to think or to question that the French education system it produces people who have been trained to think in the same way and, therefore, does not produce enough innovators and entrepreneurs for a 21st century economy. Those innovators and entrepreneurs that France does have arise despite the French education system and not because of it. It is also often said that the French education system educates children to pass examinations and to conform.

Rote learning has its place within the tools necessary to educate a child but like all tools should not be over-used. Rote learning when combined with other methods can prove an excellent way of imparting basic information and ensuring that it is there for the pupil's use for life. Teaching a child to think, experiment and question are all part of the education necessary for a well rounded individual. To condemn rote learning completely is to throw the baby out with the bathwater but it should never be the sole, or even the most prevalent method of teaching and learning. It is, nonetheless, sometimes an extremely useful tool.

Learn more about this author, M.Collins.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Why you should say no to rote learning?
We want to hear your view. Write now!