Teachers' Union Chief Falters in a Pop Quiz on Fractions

New York Times ^ | December 28, 2006 | By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

[joeystoy]

Teachers’ Union Chief Falters in a Pop Quiz on Fractions Sign In to E-Mail or Save This Print Reprints Share DiggFacebookNewsvinePermalink

By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN Published: December 28, 2006 In contract negotiations, Randi Weingarten, the president of the New York City teachers’ union, typically does math in percentages, not fractions — as in 7.1 percent pay raises over two years in a deal that she brokered last month. And with teachers receiving large raises in the last three contracts, many teachers would say they like the way she counts.

But Ms. Weingarten, the standard bearer for more than 80,0000 teachers, was left flummoxed by a question about fractions yesterday when she was on “The Brian Lehrer Show” on WNYC radio, to discuss a recent report calling for a reinvention of American public schools. “What is 1/3 plus ¼?” the guest host, Mike Pesca, asked.

“What is 1/3 and ¼?” Ms. Weingarten stalled. “I would actually have to do it on paper.”

[Fawn]

Bump for Public education teachers

[joeystoy]

As a quick check I asked my son (16) and my wife who is a New York City teacher with 30+ years experience. Both are self-admittedly not very good at math. Both did the calculations in their heads and came up with the correct answer in less than 15 seconds.

I then told my wife about her Union Boss and she replied:

"Gee, what a surprise." (sarc)

[Lurker]

“What is 1/3 and ¼?” Ms. Weingarten stalled. “I would actually have to do it on paper.”

I would have handed her some and told her to go right ahead.

L

[joeystoy]

How do I go back and fix the headline?

[Darkwolf377]

The "I'm so NOT shocked" story of the day.

[exnavy]

When pressed farther, Ms Wine garden replied, "Gimme a hint."

[Lurker]

Ping the mods.

Adminmoderator is the screen name.

L

[Loud Mime]

ping

[Izzy Dunne]

For those of you playing along at home:

1/3 is 4/12.

1/4 is 3/12.

1/3 + 1/4 = 4/12 + 3/12 = 7/12.

[tommyboy]

My favorite is ..if you have 25 cents in one pocket and 35 cents in another pocket, what do you have? Someone elses pants!!

..and remember when dealing with the area of a circle, cornbread are square, pie are round.

Happy New Year.

2 Smart, 2 Go, 2 School. (-;

[Admin Moderator]

The title you created had to be changed to the original published title. The author's name and date also had to be changed.

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Thanks.

[andyandval]

[joeystoy]

Thanks. I'm relatively new at this... and technologically illiterate. But I'm trying.

[Always Right]

I would have handed her some and told her to go right ahead.

Yeah, that is what should have happened. But I am sure the guest would have refused, and said something like, "I am not going to play your silly game," or something like that.

[martin_fierro]

I bailed and went with .58333333

[martin_fierro]

“What is 1/3 and ¼?”

The answer is C.

[Shimmer128]

That took me all of 6 seconds to do in my head. Which would be 1/10 of a minute btw.

[Izzy Dunne]

That took me all of 6 seconds to do in my head.

Is that measured with the English second, or the metric second?

[ShadowDancer]

I came up with the correct answer by doing it in my head but only because one of my daughters just went through fractions in math so I had to relearn it due to that. Admittedly, I would have had trouble coming up with the answer without that. I am HORRIBLE in math.