[old and tired]

all ya’ gotta’ do is be close in math. It’s self-esteem for teachers and students on steroids.

That's not true. These days the teachers expect the kids to understand and describe the mathematical processes used to derive the answer. Memorizing the math facts would be easier. It would also be a huge improvement. Kids have the rest of their lives to figure out the process. If they even need to, which in most cases they won't.

Here's a sample second grade math question from October of this year. There are 150 pencils. 10 pencils in each box. How many boxes of pencils are there? Not so easy to figure out when you don't yet know how to multiply and divide.

[laweeks]

That's not true. These days the teachers expect the kids to understand and describe the mathematical processes used to derive the answer. Memorizing the math facts would be easier. It would also be a huge improvement. Kids have the rest of their lives to figure out the process. If they even need to, which in most cases they won't.

Where the hell is THAT school? I'm telling you what we get out of our public schools locally, and it's pathetic . . . and I don't live in the Cleveland ghetto . . . this is a suburban area. If your kids are not in parochial schools, forget it.

[BfloGuy]

Kids have the rest of their lives to figure out the process. If they even need to, which in most cases they won't.

It took thousands of years for man to deduce the mathematical algorithms. What possible sense does it make to force children to it all over again? You are correct.

Sometimes, it makes perfect sense to teach concepts backwards. Start with the long division algorithm and an understanding of what's going on will come with repetition.

There isn't time for kids to have to reinvent everything.