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Math Pop Quiz Stumps Teacher Union Head
Daily News ^ | December 28 | Erin Einhorn

Posted on 12/30/2006 9:36:31 AM PST by achilles2000

Math pop quiz stumps Randi

BY ERIN EINHORN DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Talk about a high-stakes test. The radio audience was live and the question for teachers union president Randi Weingarten involved sixth-grade math: "What's 1/3rd plus 1/4th?"...

Mike Pesca, who was filling in for Lehrer, introduced the show's education topic by saying American college grads can't do basic math while high school grads in Canada and middle-schoolers in India have no trouble.

After Weingarten stumbled, another guest quickly produced the correct answer: 7/12ths, leaving Weingarten to explain herself.

(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: arithmetic; education; math; maths; nea; schools; teachersunions
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To: achilles2000

Please get me more info about this creature along with some photos. This deserves a YouTube mocking. Thanks.


101 posted on 12/30/2006 11:10:49 AM PST by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: freespirited
Most teachers take the Praxis I or the Praxis II and a subject test. The Praxis I is a college entry level test--it is the one I took. The math contained 3-4 step word problems, geometric formulas for area, perimeter, volume, etc, several questions about angles of all kinds, several 2 step equations, some 3 and a smattering of 4 step -- I would say no more than 3 of the latter. I don't remember any trig functions and certainly no calc. What level math would that equal?

However, I say all that with one caveat. A friend of mine was taking the test next to me (we were on computers) and she said her test contained NO geometry in the least, no multi-step equations, but tons and tons of word problems and some 4 function math. The test administrator told us that the computer produces a different test for each taker and it sounded like I got a harder one and she got an easier one. Luck of the draw I guess.

Praxis II is a test I know nothing about, didn't have to take it.

102 posted on 12/30/2006 11:12:02 AM PST by SoftballMominVA
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To: nmh

Yes, nmh, I am a Texas publik skool teechur. You and I have chatted before.


103 posted on 12/30/2006 11:12:50 AM PST by Clara Lou
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To: achilles2000

re: my previous post

There probably isn't enough good info here to make a YouTube after all.


104 posted on 12/30/2006 11:13:30 AM PST by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: napscoordinator

I kept 3/21 for my trouble, commission, you know.


105 posted on 12/30/2006 11:13:41 AM PST by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

I did a 'brain dump' of geometry forty years ago and haven't regretted it for a moment. What a waste of classroom time. Algebra at least had minimal use so I used it.


106 posted on 12/30/2006 11:14:02 AM PST by gcruse (http://garycruse.blogspot.com/)
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To: durasell

So NYC becomes the training ground that provides the experience for the larger NJ salaries. I've seen some reports of what teachers in NJ earn--it makes ours here in VA pale! In my county, a teacher with Masters + 30 will earn close to 80K after 30 years of service. I've been told that teachers in NJ top that level after about 1/2 the time. Of course I teach in a rural county, in a safe school, so maybe the trade off is worth it.


107 posted on 12/30/2006 11:14:39 AM PST by SoftballMominVA
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To: BraveMan

Wait until we get to partial fraction decomposition. LOL.


108 posted on 12/30/2006 11:16:07 AM PST by patton (Sanctimony frequently reaps its own reward.)
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To: SoftballMominVA

The Praxis is given in what state(s)?
Did you score higher than your friend [since yours was harder]? The reason that I ask is this: The computerized GRE bases what questions you will be asked on the rest of the test on how well you answer the first 10 questions of the test. Get those right, and you get more difficult questions [and a higher score, I believe].


109 posted on 12/30/2006 11:16:27 AM PST by Clara Lou
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To: Condor51
Being the Union President likely she hasn't taught in school in years.

True, but this is something so basic any teacher should be able to figure it out, regardless of how long it's been since they've been in a classroom. Ideally, this is something any high school student should be able to answer.

Even then - teachers are not Degreed on all subjects. You have Math, English, History, etc.

Yes, but they should have basic knowlege over all of the major subjects. I wouldn't necessarily expect every teacher to know how to work with i for example, but they should all be able to handle basic fractions.

Then you have the specific Education 'Level' the teacher is Degreed for. Like Elementary K-3, 4-8 or Secondary (High School).

Also true, but adding fractions is something that is taught at one of the lower levels. One would expect teachers of all levels to know something that basic.

...However, ask her about "1066" or "The Battle of Hastings" and you get a blank stare. I know more about History that she does. But that doesn't mean I'm smarter and would be a better teacher, or that she's a bad teacher.

Of course. But suppose you asked your friend who FDR was, or to name the civilization that ruled the Western world in the time of Christ. I'd say that's about on par with asking an English teacher, or a teacher's union president, to add two small fractions. If your friend couldn't answer those questions, would you start to have some doubts about her?

110 posted on 12/30/2006 11:17:08 AM PST by timm22 (Think critically)
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To: Clara Lou

"Yes, nmh, I am a Texas publik skool teechur. You and I have chatted before."

Oh, yes. I remember you ... well atleast you upper case your "I" rather than "i". You're coming along ... .

What a wonderful example you set for the kiddies!


111 posted on 12/30/2006 11:18:14 AM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God) .)
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To: SoftballMominVA

NJ or CT or Westchester or Long Island.

NYC has always provided that training function in private industry as well. FYI: the guy who wrote Angela's Ashes was a NYC teacher for 30 years. Steve Bescemi (sp?) was a fireman and I know a couple of cops who retired and took up acting. They appear regularly in Law & Order and CSI.

The other thing to remember is that more than half of the new teachers leave -- quit the profession -- after the first year.

The weirdest thing NYC ever tried is "teaching fellows." They're recruiting people from private businesses into teaching. I doubt it will work, but it's worth a try.

p.s. they just opened a Hospitality High School, to train kids for careers in hotels and restaurants.


112 posted on 12/30/2006 11:20:36 AM PST by durasell (!)
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To: timm22
But suppose you asked your friend who FDR was

Would 'commie traitor' be a correct answer?

113 posted on 12/30/2006 11:20:45 AM PST by Dinsdale
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To: nmh

I'm sorry--your braying isn't comprehensible.


114 posted on 12/30/2006 11:20:50 AM PST by Clara Lou
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To: Clara Lou
Praxis I is required here in Virginia. But Praxis II subject tests are also required if there is one in your area. At the time, there was none for SpEd and none for reading, so I was exempt.

I know what you are talking about with the computer adaptive tests. That is just like the GRE. But the test taker said that the 50 questions or so were random and not based on how you did.

Our scores were similar; I missed 1 question and she missed 3. I want to say we needed a 221 to pass and I had a 235 and she had a 232. The scores were calculated and displayed in about 2 minutes after finishing.

Since she is my best friend, of course I gave her a hard time about missing more easy questions that I did hard ones. That's what friends are for. She is the same one I did the GRE with. Before we went in, I reminded her that UVA did NOT care about our analytical score, it wasn't counted, so skip that section and get to the quantitative. I did A B C D and got out in 3 minutes, she thought the questions were fun and worked them. Go figure, after 6 hours of testing, she gets to the end of the quantitative with a fried brain and is only half reading the questions that really count.

FWIW, doing ABCD on the analytical section of the GRE will earn you a 420. About the IQ of a animated turnip.

115 posted on 12/30/2006 11:23:00 AM PST by SoftballMominVA
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To: Caesar Soze
On the one hand, I sympathize with Ms. Weingarten. I'm not a natural speaker, and when I'm put on the spot in front of a crowd, my brain tends to shut down.

Yes, but is your job a leadership position? Does it require regular public speaking, as a would be expected from the president of a major union?

116 posted on 12/30/2006 11:24:12 AM PST by timm22 (Think critically)
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To: durasell
Not really. She's the head of the union. She pretty much has to do what the rank and file say. Her power, such as it is, comes from the control of tens of billions of dollars in the pension etc...

Silly bunny! That's not how it works. If it were, then why would 90%+ of union contributions go to RATs when the membership is nowhere near 90% RAT?

Where did you get the idea that a union was democracy in action? Have you ever tried to go against a BA or Sec/Treas of a local?

117 posted on 12/30/2006 11:25:04 AM PST by gogeo (Irony is not one of Islam's core competencies (thx Pharmboy))
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To: durasell
Oh Yeah! Frank McCourt taught at Stuyvesant (I'm sure I misspelled that) I love his books.

Hospitality High School? Well, I guess whatever floats your boat. Certainly a fun career. But it is interesting that the system is looking at career tracks that keep kids in school and offer an alternative.

118 posted on 12/30/2006 11:25:46 AM PST by SoftballMominVA
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To: gogeo

I have friends in that particular union. They beat back the officials all the time.


119 posted on 12/30/2006 11:27:13 AM PST by durasell (!)
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To: Clara Lou
Ah, I see your reading and comprehesnion is still off the mark.

From this exchange:

(You) Yes, nmh, I am a Texas publik skool teechur. You and I have chatted before."

(Me)Oh, yes. I remember you ... well at least you upper case your "I" rather than "i". You're coming along ... .

(Me) What a wonderful example you set for the kiddies!

You come back with THIS as a reply?

(You) "I'm sorry--your braying isn't comprehensible."

(Me) God help us!!

(Me) Time to get ole hubby involved to defend this dumbed down exchange of words on your part?

(Me) The more you express yourself, the deeper of a hole you dig for yourself. You remove any mystery of why you defend ignoramuses. My best advice to you, is say nothing and keep em guessing. Also consider leaving teaching ... it's simply not fair to kids to subject them to YOU!
120 posted on 12/30/2006 11:27:20 AM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God) .)
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