Got this one from a co-worker who knows I used to be a total math junkie…
Last week when purchasing a burger at Burger King for $1.58. The counter girl took my $2 and I was digging for my change when I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her. She stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while looking at the screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried.
Why do I tell you this?
Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1950s:
Teaching Math In 1950: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit?
Teaching Math In 1960: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?
Teaching Math In 1970: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit?
Teaching Math In 1980: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.
Teaching Math In 1990: A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers.)
Teaching Math In 2005: Un hachero vende una carretada de Madera por $100. El costo de la produccin es $80.
Comments
So have you caught the show “Numbers,” Jake? Granted, it’s not calculus, but at least it gets some thinking about math going in the entertainment-dulled craniums. (Also very interesting cover story in Biz Week a couple weeks ago: “Why Math Will Rock Your World.” So don’t abandon hope … entirely;-)
I used to watch the show, but it’s on at the same time as “Monk” which is a far more enjoyable show to me.
I came across this one for the first time, several years ago. I sent it to my Mom, who is a former 4th grade teacher (she taught in the 1960s), and said “now you know why I have certain weak points in math.” Her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. 🙂 She was stunned.
Do people seriously wonder why I intend to home-school my kids (when I finally have them, that is)? Maybe I’m a control freak… then again maybe I expect my kids to be able to make change. 🙂
Side note… what is really funny is that I took Teacher Ed classes in college in the 90s. Although we steered clear of “how did the squirrels feel” (LOL) this sort of “open class participation” and “there are no wrong answers” were totally spot-on for how we were taught to build class sessions. What a hoot!
I was always really good at math, but now I can rarely help my kids with math homework, because they way they’re supposed to do it is so strange. I can show them how to get the right answer, but they don’t get credit, because they’re not doing it the right way.
I recently read a quote, that I had to read twice to make sense of it, because it was pretty complex. Then I read the source and it was from a fifth-grade reader used in the early 1900s. We is not getn no smarter.
Karin, you will Home School your kids after you find the joys of Mathland, adding to subtract and “techniques” like Jumpers and Skippers to enhance test scores. blah
I often give cashiers strange amounts of money, and most of them have to type it manually into the register or they can’t give me my change. If it costs me $6.02 I’ll give the cashier $11.05, just because I didn’t have a five but I don’t want so many ones in my wallet.
It’s also entertaining.
I’ll be starting as a cashier next week (while going to school in the mornings), and I bet that if I get those strange ammounts of money I’ll still be a little confused (although I’d like to consider myself good at math), but of course you can always just type in how much you’re given.
And really “we is not getn no smarter.” I’ve frequented private high schools in Brazil, and in 9th grade we’d be down to second degree equations. While now in Europe (Italy), still in highschool, in the 9th grade we’re a little ahead then Brazil in the sense that there’s alot more work to be done.
When I remember the 9th grade in USA (Florida), we would be doing the four basic operations and little else.
I’d say that how much is done in school doesn’t have an exceptionally bigroll in determining the future of a nation, because well, frankly, the american education is lacking.
Perhaps less is better.
On another note, yes I’ve been in high school for longer than I’d like to admit. :o)