Posted: 5/5/2005 11:28:06 AM EDT
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A good read, author unknown: Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $1.58. The counter girl took my $2 and I was digging for my change when I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her. She stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while looking at the screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried. Why do I tell you this? Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1950s: Teaching Math In 1950 A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit? Teaching Math In 1960 A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit? Teaching Math In 1970 A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit? Teaching Math In 1980 A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20. Teaching Math In 1990 A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers.) Teaching Math In 2005 Un hachero vende una carretada de madera para $100. El costo de la producción es $80 .... |
| When I took the pre-ASVAB test the recruiter asked me for several minutes if I had used a calculator. At first he didn't believe anyone could get all the answers right without one but finally he believed me. In a momement of shock, he replied," damn, I have'nt had any kids score over a 50% on the math since I got here." |
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Dude, that's not a joke. Some of the african-centric schools around here, including a 'self governed' school, hold math out as not needed because the african mind deals on a higher level of thought and they see things as groupings and approximate for that reason.
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yes I know, that's where I got the idea. 
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 Please tell me you're kidding. |
No,no he's not. |
Dear God....are you serious? Do people really believe that? Part of me wants to hear more...like looking at a train wreck 
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| There was a black girl at my school trying to take intermediate Cal. She dropped the first week. Why, you might ask. Well in her words, " Math and science stuff are for computers, the world needs me to use my intelligence to solve the big problems in life, like, ah, you know, social inequality." |
yeah but from my personal experience, they only teach mini-calculus-lite and anyone going into engineering or science will end up having to retake real calc in college. And by cramming more and more math subject into the same amount of time, they are not stressing the fundamentals needed to master calculus. I know for me that was a problem, as I would often not remember some geometry or algebra concepts that are building blocks of higher up maths. |
From what i saw the kids doing at my school they went pretty deep into integral/differential calculus. I saw some series too but i dont know if they were infinite. I have to retake linear algebra next quarter 
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| This goes on in other areas too. Maya Lin, the woman who "designed" the Vietnam Memorial was astounded at the life-like bronze statues of Frederick Hart's Three Soldiers and asked him how the models minded being covered in the casting solution. He said he sculpted it with clay, a stylus, his imagination and armature wire and she could barely believe it. |
So are they going to recieve A's and credit in BOTH foreign language and math? |
But how will they be able to carry out drug deals without the basic skills, like how many rocks = how much $$, or if a 24" spinner rim costs $1325, how much will a whole set cost? And how many rocks will I have to sell to get them? After all, if they have absolutely no math skills whatsoever, how are they going to get jobs in the real world?????? Woody |
That is why they" gotz to be rollin in da dough". |
Linear algebra is cake. FEAR abstract ("modern") algebra. Did you ever get your HD Military working? |
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a logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. His state tax burden if $34, his Federal is $56. He pays a road impact fee of $35.67, and an enviromental impact fee of $113.24. Social Security, worker's comp, and other taxes add another $18.76. Further, he is sued for $11,347.00 by a worker that felled the tree, and got hurt while goofing off on the cell phone. Enviromentalists seem him selling the lumber, and torch his truck. His insurance companies screws him for a net loss of $5,800. How does he stay in business? |
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OK, great. Now I just can't WAIT until some of these "higher thinkers" get jobs working for NASA planning the next space launch. "Yo, Dogg...what's the formula for figuring out the the launch parameters for a manned mission to Mars, again?....ah, skip it. I'll just approximate it like my teacher would." Dr. William Shockley would have something to say about THAT!!! CJ Quoted: Dude, that's not a joke. Some of the african-centric schools around here, including a 'self governed' school, hold math out as not needed because the african mind deals on a higher level of thought and they see things as groupings and approximate for that reason. /quote] |