Marty Ross: do you want to say in a word why you think numeracy is a con job? I know I think that, but interested in your perspective.

Answer: I have learned to have several problems with the word. To begin with, it cheapens the idea of being literate which has a very rich meaning of being educated. Secondly, it cheapens the idea of mathematics, since the focus on number implies one can get by in this World of ours without needing a sense of space, pattern, shape and so on. Whilst the word was probably invented by well meaning policy makers, it has actually allowed governments and others off the hook; spend money on the ‘basics’ and the public will let us avoid our broader responsibility to ensure everyone gets the broad general education that ought be a fundamental human right. Finally, it now has the sense of remediation; maths for dummies and the ill-educated as a last gasp catch up. Instead of trying to sort out how the word could be used for good instead of evil, I favour advocacy for a manifesto that (a) defines the mathematics all in society have a fundamental right to know and understand and (b) lays out the action governments need to take to put this in place.