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 ...
You have to find the nearest number common to both. That is determined by multiplying the 3 by the 4 to get 12. Thus 1/3rd of 12 is 4, and 1/4th of 12 is 3. Add the 4 and the 3 and you get 7 12/ths.
LOL - Cat Ballou.
Zoiks - that is the first time I have seen it done THAT way. I like it!
I was right, and you were wrong. LOL.
Yo Pro..
Try that one with 2/3 + 1/7
1/4 = 1/4 x 3/3 = 3/12
4/12 + 3/12 = 7/12
And this is the problem. There are way too many underwater basketweavers in education and they run the show. People teaching math in middle schools aren't often even certified in math.
And there are no lower standards in all of academia than primary school education. Not even sociology or even women's studies.
I know plenty of people on this thread say that they can't add fractions, but they aren't the chief educator of a major teacher's union. Every elementary school teacher is supposed to teach fractions. What is your kid enduring if his teacher has this level of knowledge?
Pinging you to the Professor's method - I like it!
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.
Hell, how she even puts up with those little monsters is a miracle. I'd be in jail for battery.
She is also a Democratic National Committee member.
Pathetic.
"Try that one with 2/3 + 1/7"
Looks like 17/21 to me...
She's not an educator. She's a union official.
She's their boss. That's even worse!
Yes, but are you a member of the school system, let alone the president of a teachers union? No? Well then we won't hold it against you, BUT don't you think someone in our education system should be able to do this simple math question?
He's not very good at ADDING fifths, but he's Isaac Newton when it comes to taking them away ...
"Yo Pro..
Try that one with 2/3 + 1/7"
" Even if one doesn't know the answer by memory it's quite easy to add these two particular fractions the old-fashioned way in one's head."
I did it in my head. "4*3 is 12" That means we want 12ths. "1/3*4/4 is 4/12." "1/4*3/3 is 3/12." 4/12 + 3/12 = 7/12
Geeze. That was fifth or sixth grade stuff when I was a kid. No brainer.
"Being the Union President likely she hasn't taught in school in years.
Even then - teachers are not Degreed on all subjects.
You have Math, English, History, etc.
Then you have the specific Education 'Level' the teacher is Degreed for. Like Elementary K-3, 4-8 or Secondary (High School)."
My bachelors degree (music) was awarded in 1979, and I haven't taught school since 1981. The problem is easy...even for me.
She's their boss.
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.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.