I was one of the first cohort of kids in my school district to be placed in the experimental “integrated math” curriculum track. Assignments often involved creating your own word problems. This was one of my first:
“Joe has three apples. Mary has no apples at all. Jealous of Joe’s good fortune, Mary multiplies her lack of apples by Joe’s three apples. How many apples does Joe have left.”
I didn’t like integrated math, much.
You know, the sad part about expiraments in education, is the kids that get screwed by it are screwed forever.
The teachers just try something else - but the kids are screwed.