Amazing talented memory feats

[Rose65]

Reading the Little House on the Prairie books, I get the impression that education in past times consisted of a great deal of reciting from memory. At one point Laura recites a very long description of American Presidents word perfectly for a large audience.


I thought back to my schooldays. I did have to learn short poems by heart, also my tables. I wonder if memorising is still a part of education these days, if it is even necessary in this information age.

My memory has never been good, I certainly cannot memorise anything now. I do retain a lot of odd useless unusual facts! There are of course people who have amazing memories. I remember formidable 'memory man' acts on TV years ago. Nobody does that any more.

 

[jujube]

I remember having to learn multiplication tables, chanting in class "two-times-two-is-four-two-times-three-is-six-two-times-four-is-eight....." until it became automatic.

I asked my granddaughter if she was doing multiplication tables and she just gave me a blank look, so apparently they're not doing that. I'm sure they have some complicated formula for it now.

I gave up on helping with math many, many years ago when my daughter would ask me to help her and when I'd show her the answer, she'd cried, "BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO DOOOOOOO ITTTTTTT!!!" Well, MY way worked just fine but apparently it wasn't "modern" enough?

 

[palides2021]

Yes, we had to recite in school. I remember the math multiplication tables and having to recite Hamlet's "To be or not to be, that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer...and so on

When I homeschooled my son, the school would send books and class protocols to follow. I remember a few cases where he had to recite passages from a poem or text. When he was around fifteen, he had to participate at the oratorical festival in our church. He memorized a four-minute speech. So it still does happen.

 

[Wayne]

My ex step daughter is or has some issues but memory is AAA++++ perfect as dates, names, addresses and such.

 

[dobielvr]

Oh yes, I can remember having to recite the Presidents and all 50 states.
The Pledge of Allegiance.

 

[Born_To_Lose]

I carry 8 credit cards. I know the numbers on all 8, including front and back, plus my driver’s license number, social security number, plate number and concealed weapon permit number. I can’t remember my home landline number. I have to call it using my cellphone.

 

[Rose65]

I am impressed by those with good memories. I cannot remember my mobile phone number or my car registration. I suppose because I am a list-maker I don't make the effort to commit much to memory.

 

[Cornhusker]

When I was in high school, our history teacher had us memorize a poem made up of nonsense words. He promised us if we ever memorized it, we'd never forget. I can recite it to this day, but trying to memorize anything now is hopeless.