Teachers' Union Chief Falters in a Pop Quiz on Fractions

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

[joeystoy]

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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.”

[Right Wing Assault]

7/12? Naw, it's 2/7!

And 1/2 + 1/2 is 2/4.

[John Jorsett]

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 have no use for union dweebs, but to be fair, it's a different situation when you're on the radio and you know a wrong answer would make you look like a fool to thousands of people. I did the calculation in my head in a couple of seconds, but I might have frozen up in those same circumstances.

[mware]

Most of being bad at math is fear of math...you'd grow and learn with them

It may work for maths but geometry was a whole different ball game for me. That was one rough year.

[K. Anderson]

The state of Ohio "grades" all of our schools, and those in my city have been labeled in "Academic Emergency" for several years now. My brother-in-law is a teacher in one of these schools, and a real clue was given last year as to part of the problem. He received an e-mail from the superintendent that had the title "We are in ACADEMIC EMERGANCY!!!"

[patton]

What are they emerging from?

[Prodigal Son]

it's a different situation when you're on the radio and you know a wrong answer would make you look like a fool to thousands of people

Aye... I agree with this somewhat. I don't think it would've gotten me, because I am confident about what I know how to do, but after watching 'the Weakest Link' a few times and seeing the contestants stumped by simple questions like 9x7 and that b-tchy Anne Robinson telling them how stupid they were...

I still reckon a teacher ought to be able to do that one on the spot though.

[Shimmer128]

Let me tell you a secret, it was for me too, I was afraid of my blustery, rude teacher and I failed. Only course I've ever failed in school in my life. Now I actually enjoy the symmetry and beauty and logic of it.
But I did get a tutor for son for high school math. (blush) It was just easier, and a wonderful old man from our church tutored church kids for free and he brought more into our lives and son's lives than mere math. He died last year and what will we ever do without him? He is sorely missed, and not just for math, but for the life-tutoring he shared.

[Fawn]

Well...I don't even come close to being any math wiz, but after all these years, I know 'common denominator' comes in play here and was easily able to do that in my head. If she knew any basics in fractions, she would of came up with that.

[Tanniker Smith]

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

Oddly enough, I have to use examples like this tomorrow to get my students to realize that adding:

(1 / x) + (1 / (x+1) ) isn't any different than adding regular fractions.

The problem, of course, is that the can neither add regular fractions, nor be bothered to think for even 4 seconds what those fractions represent.

TS

[mware]

You start back tomorrow too???

[Aquinasfan]

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

Proving that you don't have to know very much math to get by in life. But universal ineffective math instruction will be mandatory as long as teacher unions profit.

[leda]

new teachers typically are drawn from the bottom
10% of their graduating class

I did not graduate in 1955, I wasn't even born then,
but I was certainly not in the bottom 10% of my class.
Both my undergraduate (major and a minor) and
graduate degrees were with honors.

You might want to reconsider generalizing an entire profession.

[bvw]

That's dang close. You need a calculator for the real answer, though. Nice guess. ; - )

[joeystoy]

An honor student should know the definition of the word "typically".

That women today have choices previous generations did not is a fact that cannnot be disputed.

[j_tull]

And all this time I thought lcd was an acronym for Liquid Crystal Display!

[ClaireSolt]

Whereas what you say is true, it does not follow that those who go into teaching lack the abiity to do and teach 6th grade math. As college grads they are still in the top 25%. Unions have protected them from performance standards. Also, bureaucratic schools and patronage hiring practices create working conditions that chase the best off.

[mware]

Indeed, there are quite a few conservative teachers out there.

Matter of fact of the 7th grade teacher team I am a member of, 3 of the 4 are conservative.

There is a very big difference between the union hierarchy and those of us teaching in the trenches.

[leda]

You are implying that more professional choices
for women means that teachers are "typically"
the lowest 10% of their class now.

[leda]

There is a very big difference between the union
hierarchy and those of us teaching in the trenches.

I couldn't agree more!

[joeystoy]

I left PS 63 for JHS 202 (Goddard) and then went on to Christ the King HS in Middle Village. I will be forever grateful to Marist Brothers.