Boys from Mr Turley's class in St Michael's College in Dublin demonstrate their mathematical skills working out problems using decimals and pounds, shillings and pence.
In February 1962 the Irish government announced that a decimal currency system should be introduced. Fears that decimalisation would be complicated and hard to pick up are dispelled by the boys of St Michael's College who have no problem moving from one system to the other.
Their teacher Mr Turley is equally enthusiastic about the proposed decimal system, as he thinks it will eliminate difficulties that students, particularly the younger ones, have with pounds shillings and pence tables.
There are fears older people may have problems with the new currency but he points out that in Trinidad where the decimal system started, the changeover was painless. Once the system is implemented people will get used to it quickly.
One of Mr Turley’s pupils Jonathan Prince is originally from America. He was used to the United States dollar and can say it took him exactly a month and a half to fully get to grips with pounds shillings and pence. Until that point
Mommy worked it out for me and she bought my candy and gifts.
He advocates for a decimal system as working by ten is easier. Similarly his classmate Michael Earley has no fears about the new system and thinks it will be quite easy to change over.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 15 February 1962. The reporter is Kevin O'Kelly.
