What happened to the teaching system?

**SARS-expl0ted** · #1 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 07:59 AM

Fifty Years of Math 1957 - 2007

Last week I purchased 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 evolutio n 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 part ic ipation
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 2007

Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara
$100. El costo de la producciones es $80. Cuanto
Dinero ha hecho?

**Opunaya** · 09-28-2007, 08:06 AM

That's so true... >_< and I hate math to begin with. It'd probably help if the government actually cared about teaching the kids something useful instead of the standardize testing which prohibits any USEFUL information from reaching the kids...and the way the teachers are screwed over these days isn't cool either.

**SARS-expl0ted** · 09-28-2007, 08:12 AM

Now that I look at this, I see why I didn't do so well in school though. I always try to look deep into what I am doing and I search for a complicated answer when the answer is in the question. It throws me off so much because I think, "No. It can't be that...that's too easy." so I keep trying to figure it out when it is right there.

The type of question I am talking about is this one:
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.

Except, they leave the bold part out.

**Opunaya** · 09-28-2007, 08:28 AM

lol, I never had to worry about over thinking the math questions...

**SARS-expl0ted** · 09-28-2007, 08:30 AM

I always did! Isn't that horrible?
I would lean over to Chris and be like, "It isn't 20, is it?"
"Yea."
"Uh. What the fuck?!"

WillyBubba · 09-28-2007, 07:42 PM

A big part of it is that the teaching system now focuses on teaching kids to fit a role and accept the established ways of thinking as opposed to actually thinking critically. I saw a video recently (which was boring but made a very important point) where this woman on a school board was complaining about tests that were being administered in the 1980's which didn't actually test intelligence or how well kids grasped concepts, but how well they were developing and conforming to the system on a psychological scale. This was determined to be illegal and supposedly people stopped doing it. Years later the system is smart enough to try and hide it as opposed to stating it openly as their mission statement, but tests and the goals of those tests are still largely the same.

On a side note, I found it kind of amusing that this snippet: "cuts down a beautiful forest because He is selfish and inconsiderate" referred to 'He' (like God) as opposed to 'he.'

**Kelley** · 09-28-2007, 08:05 PM

Geezus I probably would have been able to answer that question in the 60's. And 80's and 90's.
Fuck the spanish. I will never be able to read that.