Posted on 05/01/2009 7:46:39 AM PDT by Fawn
Fifty Years of Math 1959 - 2009 (in the USA )
Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $1.58. The counter girl took my $2 and 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:
1. Teaching Math In 1950s:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit ?
2. Teaching Math In 1960s:
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?
3. Teaching Math In 1970s:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80.. Did he make a profit?
4. Teaching Math In 1980s:
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.
5. Teaching Math In 1990s:
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, and if you feel like crying, it's ok. )
6. Teaching Math In 2009:
Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho
Denny’s is a racist place... you were charged a surtax for being an elitist... ;^) (funny story....)
“Those who were taught “new math” are, in fact, innumerate.”
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Innumerate, that is the word I was trying to remember a while back, I read a whole essay about it once. If I see some obvious glaring error such as 6 times 45 equals 830 I know in an instant that is wrong. It takes a second longer to mentally calculate the correct answer of 270 but someone who is innumerate is likely to accept the 830 without question.
I’d say that cashier was an intellectual Zeller-dweller.
You're wearing a wizard's cap and you're sitting on the metric system?
I think that some registers are now showing pictures of the change due.
There is a book entitled “Innumeracy”.
(I think I *spelled* that correctly.)
:-)
I struggled with Algebra, but today simply making change is beyond most people under the age of 45.
I helped out a youth group with a concession stand for the weekend of the County Fair. The kids were age 9-18 Several adults took turns supervising the kids throughout the weekend. We just used a cash box, no register. Most of the adults either told the kids what change to give back for each transaction or let them use a calculator. I was the mean one, I actually explained to them how to make change- how to count it back and how to total prices in your head. Only one girl all weekend already knew how to properly make change- she was also the youngest at nine. She said her grandmother taught her to make change.
My kids learned to make change before they went to school, I used to play store with them to teach them about money and prices along with some math skills. They had fun doing it and didn’t even realize what they were learning. I play money games with my grandson now.
Your cashier probably bought something to eat near the end of his shift and that transaction evened out the till.
I’ve enjoyed reading all the posts to this article. As a teacher and businessman, I can relate. However, the new math is now, ‘swipe your card.’. There is no math. Soon, swipe your card will be replace with ‘place your hand on the scanner so that we may read your implanted chip’. You will be assimilated!
LOL, just in case you really are an adult who isn’t up to such internet-savvy things (or there are adults here who need an explanation) <3 is a heart, on its side... some websites automatically render it as a small, upright heart shape.
≤];^)
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