Most graduates of urban high schools in LA, Chicago and New York read at the 5th grade level and make no pretense of doing math. Employers consider them to be functionally illiterate.
Grandson of neighbor wanted to learn some simple bookkeeping....how to read an invoice for utilities-—how to read a bank statement-—how to keep a check register-—things that NO SCHOOL in the country seems to even have ONE class in.
I donated time...got him to attend 2 meetings with me-—he couldn’t be bothered to keep coming...
BUT—I was trying to show him how to reconcile a bank statement to the check register, and I brought out a small printing electric calculator from my office to the dining room table.
His eyes got big as saucers!!! “WHAT IS THAT?”
I said -—a calculator-something that is in every office....
He pulled out his cell phone & said-—”Why? I have a calculator right here on my phone!”
I asked him where he could get the paper tape with his calculations on his cell phone. ...
He couldn’t answer.
He was dumbfounded that a ‘calculator with tape even existed. That was the end of our teaching sessions. This kid gets VERY good ‘grades’ at the local high school. I fear for his future, tho. He isn’t learning anything useful.