Posted on 01/01/2007 4:17:06 AM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I'm a bit slow today, so it took me 1/6th of a minute (10 seconds).
The answer is C.
LOL, I see you prescribe to the, "if you do not know the answer just circle answer C.
Funny, quite a few of my students actually use that method.
BTW I check how often I used the letter C as an answer during their last test. Out of the multiple choice portion of the test, only 3 of the 15 had C as an answer.
I have to know what my kids know. :D We homeschool, it keeps me on my toes.
Not a bad ratio, 3/15
or 1/5,
or .2
or 20%
It took me more than six seconds just to think back and remember how to do it. It's been 45 years since P.S. 63 in Ozone Park. When I was in training for my first job at Waldbaum's they showed me how to price fruits and vegetables with the hanging scale. So much per pound equals so much per ounce so 1 pound 4 ounces equals the correct price. Then I would write the number on the bag with a black grease pencil. Soon after I started we got these "modern" scales with all the prices on a rotating drum so I could look on the left side for the per pound price and on the right side for sell price.
Don't get me started about cashiers and bus drivers and token clerks having to make change.
BTW: On my first first day on the job in 1967 I met this cute little blonde cashier. We're still together and she still takes care of the checking account.
In her defense, I too have a TOUGH time doing math in my head, even something that simple! I can do math on paper though. I just have to SEE the numbers.
I know those of you who can easily do it in your heads, just do not understand this. It is the whole dominant left brain, right brain issue.
Look for the Union (Soviet) Label on your child's forehead, but they will feel real good about themselves.
educators/teachers....are not interested in students or their achievement....they are only interested in salary..free health care...pension benefits...time off and retirement!!!!!
bet if the test was administered and the union teachers needed to come up with answers regarding thier salaries/pensions or anything else with a dollar sign in front of it....the answers would be to the penny!!!!
"Is that measured with the English second, or the metric second?"
LOL!!!
The Public Education Establishement refuses to address their dirty little secret?
i.e. Today's entrants into the teaching professional are simply not equal to the task.
In previous generations the education industry was built upon the exploitation of women. A woman who graduated at the top of her class in 1955 could go into teaching or nursing or become a secretary to a guy who graduated at the bottom of his class. Now that women (especially top graduates) have choices, new teachers typically are drawn from the bottom 10% of their graduating class. Until this basic fact of life is recognized and addressed, the downward spiral will continue.
Ah guarontee!
Most of being bad at math is fear of math...you'd grow and learn with them, I have complete faith in you and in that fact. :)
You're still good!
Any further answers will be charged at the current rate. (unionized homeschooler!)
:D
Funny, I left P.S. 45 in South Ozone Park for Christ the King in Springfeild Gardens in 1958, in the third grade. I still think I owe a huge debt of graditude to the Dominican Sisters.
Just Christmas Eve I was at a Hallmark Card store to buy 2 cards.
The total was $4.71 ( I don't remember the exact figure but this is close enough).
I handed the pleasant 20 something clerk a five dollar bill and the extra penny.
Guess the computerized cash registers were slow as they wouldn't tote.
She actually pulled out a calculator to figure the change.
I always thought multiple choice tests were the best until I got a particular one in college.
Choose one:
A.
B.
C.
A, B, and C.
A and B.
A and C.
B and C.
None of the above.
Try taking a test like that and all 100 questions give you those same eight choices. It is not fun.
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