YEAR 2 students are learning to add up on calculators in a Cairns school.

Mother-of-four Fleur Nightingall was disgusted when her seven-year-old son Jayden's teacher at Trinity Beach State School asked for him to be supplied with a calculator to learn maths for his year 2 classes next year.

"I just shook my head. I was stunned," Mrs Nightingall said.

"I didn't start using calculators until year 7, but you had to show you could work out your sums on paper without using a calculator.

"My son is still learning how to do sums on paper, let alone getting a calculator. It's disgusting - absolutely disgusting."

Poll: Is Year 2 too early for students to use calculators?

Education Queensland maintains the calculators support students' mathematics learning and does not detract from this focus.

Ms Nightingall said she had been disappointed by the standard of numeracy being taught in the early years of school.

"I think the education department is letting down my son," she said.

"I just can't think of any good reason why he needs to learn this in year 2, he just doesn't need to learn how to use a calculator.

"I've spoken to a few people, and they just think it's a joke."

James Cook University academic Professor Peter Ridd, who has been vocal on slipping standards of numeracy within state schools, said it was worrying students were being tempted to use calculators at such an early age.

"It is a worry that by giving them a calculator, it's a crutch and then they never learn to do arithmetic properly," Prof Ridd said.

He said calculators were banned from first-year mathematics exams at JCU, in order to challenge students' mental arithmetic skills.

"Their skills are almost universally woeful at first-year level," Prof Ridd said. "They're a little unhappy to start off with, but they accept it well. By the end of the year, their mental arithmetic is tremendous."

The Tableland-based president of the Queensland Council of Parents and Citizens Associations, Margaret Black, said she had been assured the school calculators played only a minor role in year 1 and 2 students’ learning.

Calculators were taught as part of a national test in numeracy.

"Using the calculator is one out of 44 subjects being taught," Ms Black said.

"It's a necessity for our children to sit the national testing."

An Education Queensland spokeswoman said the department placed a strong emphasis on improving literacy and numeracy standards in state schools.

"It is important for their future learning that students learn to use appropriate technologies from an early age," she said.

"The Australian Association of Mathematics recommends that all students have ready access to calculators and computers to support and extend their mathematics learning."

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