[Bob]

I came across the following question posted on Yahoo Answers the other day:

I am a teacher. We are ranked on a 1-5 scale. So, 50 percent of my eval was 2.76, 35 percent was 2.0, and 15 percent was 4.0.

So what is my rank on 1-5 scale? Help! Very stumped!

While my response may have been perhaps a bit over the top, I call 'em like I see 'em:

You're a teacher and you can't do a simple weighted average??? I certainly hope that you're not a math teacher.

Multiply each score times its weight and sum them:

(0.5 * 2.76) + (0.35 * 2.0) + (0.15 * 4.0) = 1.38 + 0.7 + 0.6 = 2.68

And people wonder why the kids aren't learning much?

And, yes, that question was for real:

Yahoo Answers post

[HiTech RedNeck]

Someone was pulling your leg!

[HiTech RedNeck]

For real, my pulled leg. Look at the data; doesn’t that appear rather artificial and contrived?

[Hodar]

I believe you, without reservation or condition.

I’m dumbfounded at what many “Educators” consider to be “competency”. I would fully expect an Art, English or Spanish teacher to have mastered this level of math, but I’m often accused of under-estimating High School level “Educators”.

Frankly, I have very little respect for them as a profession. And every bit of disdain has been earned.