Posted: 8/18/2006 9:08:31 AM EDT
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Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $3.58. The counter girl took my $4.00 and 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 ranchero vende una carretera de madera por $100. El cargo de produccion es $80. Cuantas tortillas se puede comprar? |
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I pulled a 13% in my senior year math class (year of 05). I used that class for sleeping and working on my drawing skills. Didn't matter that I failed the class horribly (I seriously put my name on my final and turned it in), because I'd fulfilled the pre-reqs for my diploma already. Signs of the times, neh? ETA: By drawing skills, I don't mean doodling. Working on becoming a professional illustrator and graphics designer. |
That is so true, if you don't believe it watch some kids do word problems. Some people can be good at math but once you don't give them the exact problem to figure out(i.e. A+B=) they can't understand it. |
Big +1 I did OK in Algebra in school but I had no clue what it was good for, and apparently neither did my teachers. Then I took electronics in tech school… OMG how cool, you mean I can actually use these formulas to predict voltage drops then go into the lab, hook a circuit up, and it actually works as predicted? Then I find out, on my own, that math can actually be used for all kinds of things. Damn, I wish they had told me that in school, I might have actually tried to go beyond algebra if I had known how useful math can be. My favorite example involves a certain hot little female engineering student. She’s over at my place having a beer and all stressed out about the possibility of failing Calculus 3. But, from what she had been telling me for the last three months, she should have been passing the class easily. (I had been “helping” her study which mostly consisted of being there but staying quiet while she worked. I was completely clueless about the kind of math she was doing.) Homework was 1/3 of the grade and she had turned all of hers in meaning she got 100% on that part. Actually there were some bonus problems so she had over 100%. Tests were also 1/3 of the grade and she had scored well over 90% on all three of them. That left the final which was 1/3 of her grade, and if she didn’t get an “A” on that she would fail the class… Wait… WTF? This girl was able to get an A in calculus but couldn’t instinctively grasp that there was absolutely no way she was going to fail as long as she showed up. With the curve she probably didn’t even have to show up to pass. I argued with her a bit and then had to get out a piece of paper and show it to her. She could understand it when I showed it to her on paper but it wasn’t instinctive. Poor girl was getting “A”s in calculus but couldn’t work an average in her head. |
There are those who will claim that this is just "teh InTarWeb" and grammar and spelling isn't important. Bullshit. That's tantamount to saying that knowing how to use Excel means a person doesn't need to know basic mathematics. |
You need to learn the tool first before you use it. |
| I aced my math classes and took electives in HS up to calculus that were not required. It's up to the individual to step up to the plate. Stupid is as stupid does. That's why I don't feel sorry for people who don't know how to do shit and don't have any money and whine about being poor. We all have the same tools available to us. |
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Maybe kids are just getting dumber?  Actually, I thnk education is pretty damn good these days - for the kids that actually CARE about education. If the kids or parents don't value education, then there's nothing the teachers can do.  When I was on a committee to award some scholarships last year, I was blown away by how impressive the high schools seniors finalists were. Holy crap! |
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When my older brother was a senior in high school, the highest available math class was pre-calculus, meant to prepare students for introductory physics and math classes once they went to college. When I went to high school, I took the highest available math class, AP Calculus, which was the equivalent of Calculus 101 in college. I was able to get a semester worth of college credit for the class after taking a tough exam. My little brother, a junior in high school, is now taking multi-variable calculus, which is the level of calculus I took in my sophomore year of college. By the time he graduates he will have 3 semesters worth of college-level math class credits and will go straight into differential equations his first semester of college, a class I did not take until my junior year of college. Now are they just rushing kids through the material without really teaching it? Have teaching methods advanced that much? Or did they just sperate the slower kids out, giving the brighter kids the opportunity to advance at their own pace? I don't know, but regardless, I disagree with your original assesment. |
Give this man a free gold membership.
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Math 1950s.. Teacher: Johnny, what's 1 + 1? Johnny: 4 <SLAP> Teacher: Johnny, what's 1 + 1? Johnny: Uh, 1? <SLAP> Teacher: Johnny, what's 1 + 1? Johnny: 2! 2! I swear it's 2! Teacher: Very good, Johnny! Teacher: (mumbles) Pussy.. Math 1990s.. Teacher: Johnny, what's 1 + 1? Johnny: 4 Teacher: Well, alright. I guess it depends on your point of view. Math now.. Teacher: Johnny, what's 1 + 1? Johnny: 4 Teacher: Wow, thinking outside the box! I like that! You're a genius! |