Math 1950-2005

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[ZULU]

Math 1950-2005

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:

1. 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?

2. 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?

3. Teaching Math In 1970

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit?

4. 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.

5. 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.)

6.Teaching Math In 2005

Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la producciones es $80.

[5by5]

If you want to know what "State of the Art " is in teaching mathematics get the book titled "Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally" by Van de Walle. It a resource book for teachers of K-8 mathematics. It discusses the math reform movement and even has advice for teachers in dealing with parents who support "back to basics" and "drill and kill."

I'm reading it because it gives me some insight into the strengths and more importantly, weaknesses of the method.

My first impression of the book is that it is heavy on words but light on ideas and spends too much time on educational cant.

But it's useful to read educational texts because teachers take you more seriously when you're familiar with their field.

[eraser2005]

Actually, reading and writing backwards is VERY normal, although it is disconcerting. At this age a fairly large percentage of children will do this, as they are beginning to understand words, sounds, and basic grammar, but don't understand structure yet. Just wait until they write words backwards to the point where they look perfect when held up to a mirror. THAT'S disturbing (but still normal)

Redrum... Redrum.....

(unfortunately, there is no backwards font)

[Sarastro]

OMG! Yeah estimation! I have heard of this!! If nothing else on earth MATH is an exact science. There is no estimation in math. morons

There's a good reason to reinforce estimation. If you can estimate a ball-park number, you're less likely to be misled by a wrong calculation, e.g., a slipped decimal on a calculator. I can't tell you how many times in business someone would come to me with a calculated result that was off by orders of magnitude, but they insisted it was right because that's the number that came off the calculator/computer. If they'd had any estimation skills, they would have realized the answer was wrong, checked their work, and corrected the error before making fools of themselves.

[Centurion2000]

When I buy stuff, I do the change in my head to keep my arithmetic faculties from decaying...

I do the same thing. What's hilarious is when you get faster than the guy typing it into the cash register. You tell them the change, and they look in you in absolute wonder like you just cracked the ENIGMA code or something.

I feel great because as I age that means that there will be less and less competition from youngsters in really demanding technical fields. Of course it spells doom for the country over the long term.

[dhs12345]

Yup.

However, I rarely see anyone counting change. They just give me whatever the register tells them to.

Maybe someone should have taught this girl. It is not her fault that she doesn't know.

In fact, I would have taken a few minutes to teach her if possible.

Basic math should not be difficult and is pretty important for survival in the U.S.

[Little Ray]

Yup. I'll never have to retire. Which, given my finances, is a good thing...
Of course, I'll have a lot of vacation accrued...

[CPOSharky]

Does anybody remember how to extract a square root with paper and pencil?

(Really showing age here)

[Henchster]

Here's a different version that was e-mailed to me in 1998:

I was at the store today. The total at the register was $15.02. I gave the clerk $20.05. After looking at the twenty dollar bill and the nickel, and the register total several times, the clerk handed me back the nickel and started to make change, saying the nickel didn’t help. When the clerk was done, I took three pennies from the pile, added the nickel, and asked for a five dollar bill, a transaction that took another minute to complete. As I left this fine establishment, I envisioned a page in a future book referencing the history of math studies in public schools:

Teaching Math in 1960:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his gross profit, and if he has to pay income tax of 44% on his profit, what is his net after tax profit?

Teaching Math in 1970:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. His gross profit is $20, and his additional expenses are $5. What is his net profit? (Hint: N=G-E where N = net profit G= gross profit and E = additional expenses)

Teaching Math in 1980:
A logger exchanges a set "L" of lumber for a set "M" of money. The cardinality of set "M" is 100. Each element is worth one dollar. Make 100 dots representing the elements of the set M". The set "C", the cost of production, contains 20 fewer points than set "M." Represent the set "C" as a subset of set "M" and answer the following question: What is the cardinality of the set "P" for profits?

Teaching Math in 1990:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. Her cost of production is $80 and her gross profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

Teaching Math in 1998:
By cutting down beautiful trees, ruining rare old-growth forests and endangering our environment, the greedy logger makes $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the forest birds and squirrels feel as the logger destroyed their homes? There are no wrong answers.

Teaching Math in 2000:
Our curriculum has been revised to more appropriately reflect the requirements of our children in today’s diverse, multi-cultural society. Our concern is to provide future leaders of the new world order with the self esteem they need to make decisions with confidence, so that, no matter the result or consequences of their choices or actions, they can be proud that they did their very best to accommodate the many varied goals, opinions and compromises inherit in our complex, dynamic, global community.

[fromscratchmom]

Wow! Don't our kids amaze us! I also read to my kids a lot. So I suppose I can take a credit for that at least.

[SoothingDave]

in defense of cashiers(of which i am one, and i do know how to make change in my head) when you are busy and the cash register does the work for you, you learn to not pay attention to numbers you don't need to remember. example. you buy 5.50 worth of stuff...i tell you what you owe and you give me 10$..I HAVE to punch in 10.$ and when i do the 5.50 amount leaves the screen and your change comes up....now when I have 50 transactions in 15 minutes I simply can't remember what everyone's tally came to so I simply try not to retain that number. Now if you gave me 10.50 it does stop me for a second because I have to get the number on the screen out of my head and think for myself for a second:)

Don't punch in $10 tendered if the customer gives you $10.50

SD

[River_Wrangler]

LOL

[butternut_squash_bisque]

I was reading at 4; I was an exception. So is your little one. I've met high schoolers who have a hard time reading, and can't make a thoughtful and complete sentence.

[Little Ray]

I thought that was just a hormonal issue - I know I hard time making a thoughtful and complete sentence if there was a girl around... Uh, Uh, Uh...

[Conservative Texan Mom]

I see employees fumble to make change all of the time. A couple of times my twelve year old, who was actually ten on one of these occasions noticed the frustration on the employee's face and attempted to alleviate it by telling them how to make the correct change. He wasn't trying to be a smarty pants. He ever so politely said,"you need another nickel and two pennies."
This is why we homeschool

[FormerLib]

The private schools in the area simply aren't any better than the well run public schools.

In the DC area, "well run public school" is an oxymoron. What geographic area are you discussing?

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Too much water under the bridge, C.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

LOL! You're right; me too.

[ZULU]

I remember using a slide rule. But that took brains and knowledge of powers of ten.

I seriously doubt if most kids today would even be able to figure out what the thing was used for. They'd probably think it was a carpenter's measure.

[ZULU]

"This girl had never been exposed to a broom or mop. She told me that her mother paid somebody else to do that kind of thing."

I think most guys today couldn't change the oil and filter or drain the anti-freeze from their cars.

They can operate a computer terminal but wouldn't know how to use a handsaw or hammer.

[ZULU]

I like it.

Why don't you post it tomorrow?