A MATHEMATICIAN who revolutionised the teaching of the subject in Scotland’s schools has died at the age of 87.
William Tait was a founding member of the Scottish PrimaryMathematics Group (SPMG) and introduced activity-based learning activities in place of learning by rote.
He died on Tuesday at Northlands Nursing Home in Blairgowrie.
Mr Tate, known as Bill, was one of five children born to Jean Tate and her husband William, a master butcher.
He grew up and was educated in Edinburgh and went on to study mathematics at Oxford before signing up to the army during the Second World War.
After his military service he studied for a degree in mathematics at Edinburgh University, before taking up a place at Dundee’s teacher training college.
He began his teaching career in Edinburgh before moving back to Dundee to take up a place as a lecturer in mathematics at Dundee College of Education.
He joined with others to form the SMPG and they produced school workbooks centred on activity-based learning.
The workbooks were an immediate success and continue to be used throughout Scotland.
William married and had two children, but for the last 20 years lived with his partner Maureen McKay (80), who he met through his work with the Tayside Regional Education Office in Blairgowrie.