Published on Aug 4, 2018
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 1950’s: Teaching Math In 1950’s: 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’s: 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’s: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit? Teaching Math In 1980’s: 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’s: 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, and if you feel like crying, it’s ok. ) Teaching Math in 2000’s: If you have special needs or just feel you need assistance because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, childhood memories, criminal background, then don’t answer and the correct answer will be provided for you. There are no wrong answers. Teaching Math In 2015: Un ha chero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la Producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho? — It’s time to make America great again. SHARE this post if you agree. What do you think ?
Uh, Koyote…speaking as someone who taught public school math in the 80s and 90s, I’d say your assessment of what I taught might be a bit off. No way would I have told someone the answer and have them underline a number (80s) and tell a student of the 90s that any lumberjack had no right to cut down trees since we ourselves had to cut down trees now and then to heat our house (dead trees, of course)! 😉 In fact I was more likely to teach it the way it was taught in the 50s…and I had to in high school, since middle school and elementary teachers didn’t teach fractions and percents and ratios very well….there I was teaching Algebra, having to teach students that 4/5 of 100 is 80, and 100 – 4/5 is 1/5 or 20! BTW, I DID also teach math in the 2000s…home school style!
Or maybe I can write a “Home School Style” song…in Korean…Psi would love it!
DEAR DL…….
THIS WAS PULLED STRAIGHT FROM YOUTUBE. I POSTED BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY…………
FIRE ONE UP SWEETS. DONT BE SO SSSSSEEEEEEEERRRRRRIIIIIOUS……….
DL, I just took this as a metaphor for our times and snapshot of how education has devolved. I too, thought is was funny and held some truth. Actually, things are even a little worse than the vid shows (Common Core Be Damned). But I see how some (especially teachers) might take it literally. I wonder what the next installment would be? Hmmm…
“Teaching math in 2020: A lumber jack married a tranny. They had no children but found fulfillment in the three vintage LP’s they mutually owned, all by The Village People. One died. How many Village People were left?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kHKMJHS3j4
Are we confused enough yet?? Geez!!
🙂
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Pedantic pedagogues pontificating on what they know not can go straight to hell. Famous saying: “Those who can, do. Those who cannot, teach.”
Question: What was among the the first war crimes committed by the American invaders in Iraq in 2003? They killed almost every teacher and college professor in that country… on orders LQQK it up….
“To control the future one must control the past.”
This is a dismal state of affairs. A few years ago, my wife and I dined with friends at a local casual restaurant and the bill came to $30.42. I needed some change for a $100.00 bill that I was carrying so I handed it to our server to settle the bill. When she returned with my change it was incorrect and after two more incorrect tries, I finally called for the manager to come over. Well, lo and behold, the manager could not calculate the correct change either! At this point, we decided to give up and told them that our change was $69.58. This is a “sad but true” true story.