Priceless: Student Sums Up Common Core Idiocy in a SINGLE Word

Top Right News ^ | 07-08-2014 | Gina Cassini

[AuditTheFed]

by Gina Cassini | Top Right News

One student got tired of being dumbed-down by Common Core's convoluted "standards" to do basic arithmetic.

"Standards" like how to add two numbers, which the student was told to do like THIS:

WHAT? It's enough to make you pull your hair out.

So when he was given his next basic arithmetic assignment, to find the difference between 180 and 158 (180-158), this 5th grade student just did it his own way -- the right way -- and dissed Common Core with single, awesome word:

[real saxophonist]

That’s pretty good.

[Junk Silver]

Brilliant, that’s the loudest I’ve laughed in recent memory.

[GeronL]

how stupid

[Lake Living]

Explain how you got your answer.
“Math”

[HiTech RedNeck]

This “could” be explained in algebraic notation, and it might not be all that bad a way to juggle numbers in one’s head. On paper, “common carrying” beats the pants off of “common core.”

[Sacajaweau]

Who would be so stupid as to go through that manipulation to add those two numbers.

Here's a visual on the stupidity. Put a pile of 27 pennies and a pile of 16 pennies on a table. Now go through those manipulations. Absolutely no logic.

[ConorMacNessa]

A 5th grader has to be "taught" to do simple addition and subtraction? In my day we were past that level in 2nd Grade.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

O stranger, tell the Lacedaemonians that we lie here, obedient to their command.

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[exDemMom]

Let’s see: 26 + 17 + ??

6 and 6 are 12. Plus one is 13.

2 and 1 are 3. Plus the carried one from the 13 make 4.

The answer is 43. Took about 5 seconds to do in my head, even without being able to add 6 and 7 directly.

I’m not sure how, exactly, that “common core” method is supposed to come up with an answer.

[Yardstick]

Reminds me of the shortcuts I use to do math quicker. The catch is that I can make shortcuts because I understand the underlying basic math. If this is advanced material taught after the basics have been learned then I don’t have a problem with it. If it’s being taught instead of the basics then that’s a problem.

[morphing libertarian]

26 and 10 is 36, and 7 is 43.

[SumProVita]

Wooo-hooo! My husband, who is an aeronautical engineer (and a retired Naval aviator), LOVED this intelligent young man’s answer.

;-)

[Scrambler Bob]

You are right.

I think they are trying to keep things at 10 and under, so kids can count on their fingers.

(Which I do, as part of my shortcuts, sometimes.)

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I think you’re supposed to do it like this:

26 + 17 = (30 - 4) + (20 -3)

26 + 17 = (30 + 20) + (-4 -3)

26 + 17 = 50 -7

26 + 17 = 43

Is this simpler, clearer, offer more insight or require fewer manipulations than:

26 + 17 = (20 + 6) + (10 +7)

26 + 17 = (20 + 10) + (6 +7)

26 + 17 = 30 +17

26 + 17 = 43 ?

I’ll keep and open mind. I am sure it will actually end up confusing more gammer skool math teachers than it will enlighten any students.

[Paladin2]

Fingers. Inspection. Etc.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I would trust an aeronautical engineer to teach common core, but not a public school teacher.

[Zeppo]

“That’s real retarded, Sir...”

[Paladin2]

One can devise number systems to count to well over 10 just using ones fingers.

[JoeFromSidney]

When I'm doing math in my head, I use a lot of tricks like the one here, breaking numbers into parts and dealing with the parts. However, this makes no sense at all when teaching math to grade schoolers. They need to be taught the basic methods of adding and subtracting, carrying, etc. Once they have those down pat, they can start using these tricks when they have to do mental arithmetic.

[Tigerized]

“26 and 10 is 36, and 7 is 43.”

I do it this way mentally...

25 + 15 = 40.

1 + 2 = 3.

40 + 3 = 43.