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Teachers' Union Chief Falters in a Pop Quiz on Fractions
New York Times ^ | December 28, 2006 | By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

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 ...


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To: leda

Yes.


61 posted on 01/01/2007 8:18:39 AM PST by joeystoy
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To: joeystoy

There are competent and incompetent in every profession.
Personal experiences could lead someone to draw similar
generalizations about any field. That is a very narrow
minded opinion, in my opinion.


62 posted on 01/01/2007 8:24:18 AM PST by leda (The quiet girl on the stairs.)
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To: leda

Is it narrow minded to report that 40% of incoming NYC elementary school teachers could not pass a rudimentary certification exam?

I'll repeat: Until the Public Education Establishment acknowledges that most top college graduates, male and female, don't even consider a career in education, the downward spiral will continue.


63 posted on 01/01/2007 8:37:46 AM PST by joeystoy
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To: joeystoy
40% of incoming NYC elementary school teachers could
not pass a rudimentary certification exam


I could make that same statement, with good confidence,
about the failing D.C. Public School sysyem.

Generalize it to the entire profession? Nope!

What percent of engineers fail their PE exam?
What percent of lawyers fail their bar exam?
64 posted on 01/01/2007 8:48:27 AM PST by leda (The quiet girl on the stairs.)
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To: leda

Law school graduates that fail the bar exam ARE NOT LAWYERS!

Engineering majors that fail their certification test ARE NOT ENGINEERS!


65 posted on 01/01/2007 8:51:42 AM PST by joeystoy
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To: joeystoy

That's right, they are not. Teachers who do not pass their
certification requirements are not teachers, either.


66 posted on 01/01/2007 8:56:48 AM PST by leda (The quiet girl on the stairs.)
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To: ShadowDancer

"I am HORRIBLE in math."

I don't wish to hijack the thread.

I am just curious why people will readily admit to being poor at math when they would never admit to being a poor reader, lover, or can't write?


67 posted on 01/01/2007 9:11:36 AM PST by burroak
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To: leda

You obviously do not live in NYC. When the national proficiency exam was administered several years ago to newly-hired teachers, more than half failed. They remained on the job and remain on the job today.

News accounts at the time reported that a large percentage of NYC teachers (some estimated up to 40%) were not only uncertified, but uncertifiable.

Today, if you admininstered the 1960 NYC teacher certification test to working public school teachers, how many would remain on the job? At that time a NYC certification was recognized in every public school system in America.

And today...???


68 posted on 01/01/2007 9:15:53 AM PST by joeystoy
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To: leda

bttt


69 posted on 01/01/2007 9:17:12 AM PST by patton (Sanctimony frequently reaps its own reward.)
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To: joeystoy

You are correct: Leda most certainly does NOT live in NYC.


70 posted on 01/01/2007 9:21:58 AM PST by patton (Sanctimony frequently reaps its own reward.)
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To: joeystoy
“What is 1/3 and 1/4”

Studies have shown that 5 out 4 American teachers have difficulty with fractions.

71 posted on 01/01/2007 9:30:16 AM PST by MosesKnows
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To: Lee'sGhost
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.

Try this one on for size: Question asked:

1. Answer

2. Answer

3. Answer

4. Answer

Here are your choices

A. If 1, 2 and 3 are correct

B. If 1 and 3 are correct

C. If 2 and 4 are correct

D. If 4 only is correct

E. If none of the above are correct

These are called K question, and they suck large rocks.

72 posted on 01/01/2007 9:32:47 AM PST by gas_dr (Trial lawyers are Endangering Every Patient in America)
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To: Izzy Dunne

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

Thank you, I have forgotten how to add fractions or subtract them for that matter!

This looks bad on the union gal in a way but most people don't deal with fractions everyday.


73 posted on 01/01/2007 9:41:49 AM PST by swmobuffalo (The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist.)
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To: joeystoy

Nope, I do not live in NYC, never have and never will
live anywhere in the state of NY.

My point is this, my "typical" colleague is, and has been,
highly qualified. Using your logic, the entire teaching
profession is highly qualified.


74 posted on 01/01/2007 9:54:43 AM PST by leda (The quiet girl on the stairs.)
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To: martin_fierro; joeystoy; Charles Henrickson
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”

Ironic that Lehrer is German for "teacher"...

75 posted on 01/01/2007 10:10:30 AM PST by mikrofon (Ich bin ein Brainlehrer)
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To: leda; joeystoy
Nope, I do not live in NYC, never have and never will live anywhere in the state of NY.

My point is this, my "typical" colleague is, and has been, highly qualified. Using your logic, the entire teaching profession is highly qualified.

I was born and raised in NYC -- (born in the late '40s, raised in in the 1950s). I have traveled around the country, and have had the opportunity to visit and live in a variety of communities, from "way upscale", to "da pits."

It is my observation that upscale suburban schools have much better teachers than inner city urban areas and "outstate" rural areas.

I am married to a teacher, who works in a very rural area. Her IQ is in the mid-one-thirties. She is no fool.

She is, however, based on my observation, surrounded by morons. (I include both teachers and administration in that broad sweeping judgement.)

We will be homeschooling our children.

76 posted on 01/01/2007 10:17:28 AM PST by Don Joe (We've traded the Rule of Law for the Law of Rule.)
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To: mware

January 2, every year (unless 1/2 falls on Fri, sat, or sun).


77 posted on 01/01/2007 10:18:58 AM PST by Tanniker Smith (I didn't know she was a liberal when I married her.)
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To: Don Joe

It is my observation that upscale suburban schools have much better teachers than inner city urban areas and "outstate" rural areas.





It's like any other profession. The best teachers go where they are paid the most -- unless they have some emotional attachment to the place.


78 posted on 01/01/2007 10:21:02 AM PST by durasell (!)
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To: Don Joe

So, you see the error in generalizing to an entire
profession based on isolated experiences and
opinons. Your wife, it seems, is not "typical" in
her current work environment.

That's exactly my point.


79 posted on 01/01/2007 10:26:23 AM PST by leda (The quiet girl on the stairs.)
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To: joeystoy

exactly!


80 posted on 01/01/2007 10:32:21 AM PST by xsmommy
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