Shifting Educational Standards
________
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 her manager for help.
While he tried to explain the transaction to her she cried.
Why do I tell you this? Please read more about the “history of teaching math.”
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 exchanges a set “L” of lumber for a set “M” of money. The cardinality of set “M” is 100. Each element is worth one dollar. Make 100 dots representing the elements of the set “M.” The set “C,” the cost of production, contains 20 fewer points than does set “M.” Represent the set “C” as a subset of “M.” Answer this question: What is the cardinality of the set “P” of profits?
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:
By cutting down beautiful forest trees, the logger makes $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the forest birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down the trees? (There are no wrong answers.)
Teaching Math in 2000:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $120. How does Arthur Anderson determine that his profit margin is $60?
Teaching Math in 2005:
El hachero vende un camion carga por $100. La cuesta de production es ……………..
posted by Elder Samuel Bennett | 1:58 PM
8 Comments:
I sense a budding bromance.
Stallion, you should have a confessional blog entry. If anyone wants to post a comment they have to confess also.
That's pretty good.
In middle school the work my son brings home seems a hell of a lot harder than what I used to do.
I think the standards are a lot higher now.
They are MUCH higher now in good schools; not so much in bad ones.
Having said that, I laughed reading the example.
But at least kids are learning about all the false promises of socialism.
SC, will you do some ranting on FOCA please? I like your rants, and FOCA gives me tics.
In Jersey the standards are all the same, at least in regards to the "core curriculum" and the state testing.
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