[ShepherdsDog]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/201 ... paper.html

$1:

The study, titled Math Instruction that Makes Sense, "demonstrates conclusively that traditional math education methods are superior to the highly ineffective, discovery-based instructional techniques that are in vogue now in educational curricula," said a news release from the public policy think tank.

The problem is also compounded by the majority of 'newer' teachers not being competent enough to teach mathematics. Sort of hard to expect the kids to learn math when their teacher has a tenuous grasp on the concept as well.

[CharlesAnthony]

Are you assuming that having hordes of the general population learning mathematics is a good thing?
In this day and age of technology, expecting high school graduates to devote their mental capacities to be able to do what can be done instantly with a calculator could conceivably be a waste of effort and a burning of what little creativity the average high school graduate still possesses.

I mean, face it. We no longer teach kids how to weave wool and knit clothing. Maybe it is time to upgrade our old-fashioned culture of mathematical education to the modern century?

I had a high school teacher who insisted on teaching us how to use a slide-rule, for goodness' sake! A slide-rule, can you believe it??

[Hyack]

$1:

students don't know how to do long division

The basics of math should be understood by all students, they can't always rely on calculators and computers. When was the last time the batteries in your slide rule died.

[ShepherdsDog]

CharlesAnthony CharlesAnthony:

Are you assuming that having hordes of the general population learning mathematics is a good thing?
In this day and age of technology, expecting high school graduates to devote their mental capacities to be able to do what can be done instantly with a calculator could conceivably be a waste of effort and a burning of what little creativity the average high school graduate still possesses.

I mean, face it. We no longer teach kids how to weave wool and knit clothing. Maybe it is time to upgrade our old-fashioned culture of mathematical education to the modern century?

I had a high school teacher who insisted on teaching us how to use a slide-rule, for goodness' sake! A slide-rule, can you believe it??

Nice to know some teachers were interested in teaching their kids how to use their grey matter.

[herbie]

Kids already know how coins work, but a hell of a lot brainfreeze at the thought of decimals.

And I've never heard the argument for replacing math with buying every kid a computer made so eloquently.
WE DON'T NEED NO EJJA-KAYSHUN
DUMB DUMB DUMB

A kid who worked for me used the same one when he couldn't use a phone book. The last names are first? How dumb! I was trained to use 411.ca, phone books are passe.
- Pink slips aren't. Here's yours, moron.

[ShepherdsDog]

Well an educated middle class, or populace in general, is anathema to both the right and left fringe. Keep them dumb and they're easier to control and manipulate. From what I've observed it seems to be working.

[CharlesAnthony]

herbie herbie:

- Pink slips aren't. Here's yours, moron.

-- and you get what you pay for in that labor market.

[Lemmy]

CharlesAnthony CharlesAnthony:

-- and you get what you pay for in that labor market.

In Canada, we spell that with a "u". Damn Yankees, dropping "u"s. Pretty soon they'll be living in hoses. And I want MY kids to learn math.

[herbie]

CharlesAnthony CharlesAnthony:

herbie herbie:

- Pink slips aren't. Here's yours, moron.

-- and you get what you pay for in that labor market.

You get that no matter what you pay these days!

"Do you know where the hiring office for the mine is? It says bring resumes to Unit 132, but all the units are odd numbered on this side of the building?"
Three or four times a goddam day.

Do you know the phone number for the OTHER internet company in town?
Yeah, it's 411.

[raydan]

Math isn't just math, it's logic and problem solving, more important then being able to divide and multiply in your head. But of course, I've seen cashiers not being able to calculate change when the "terminal" went down.

True Shep, about teachers having problems grasping subject matter when teaching. But the problem has existed for a long time. I remember my last year of high school and the "fights" I had with my math teacher. I can honestly say that I understood the subject matter better than he did.

[Benn]

raydan raydan:

Math isn't just math, it's logic and problem solving, more important then being able to divide and multiply in your head.

Exactly. That's something the add by computer generation won't understand, because they never had to do it. I guess you could say it just does not add up to them.

Hmm. some say today's kids have worse coping and judgement skills? Unable to think simple things through? Maybe we're on to something?

[jeff744]

I am glad I got through school when I did, it is sad when kids have to yank out a calculator for simple math. I have taken to mentally doing my own account of change when I buy things just to keep my math skills from getting too rusty.

[Tricks]

Math was easy.

[jeff744]

Tricks Tricks:

Math was easy.

That depends on how you are taught. I learn things by understanding how they work, not memorizing the end formulas so for me math was incredibly hard once it became memorizing formulas.

[ShepherdsDog]

Overall it seems that people's expectations of what they deserve goes up, due to an overestimation of their abilities, while what they can or are willing to provide for said extras in life goes down. They all know about their 'rights' yet know SFA about their 'responsibilities'. You bring a minimum set of skills to the table, with the barest minimum of a work ethic, expect the same in return from life.

I was one of the students who was also lucky enought o have a teacher who taught the class how to use a slide ruler. When he was a student, that's all they had. In Grade 11 we all had to go to the front of the class and do trig on the blackboard without a calculator to prove we knew how to do it.