Thursday, May 2, 2013

Math and 2013



Oh, man...this is SO GOOD.......Someone sent it to me the other day and I had to share it.   We need a laugh AND we need a wake-up call because it's not that far from the truth..


Years of Math 1950 - 2013

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 evolution in teaching math since the 1950's.

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 In1970s


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?   

7. Teaching Math In 2013

Who cares, just steal the lumber from your rich neighbor's property. He won't have a gun to stop you, and the President says it's OK anyway cuz it’s redistributing the wealth.




18 comments:

FreeThinke said...

That's QUITE a paradigm, isn't it? ;-)

It's comical all right, BUT, unfortunately, there's a large grain of truth lurking right in the middle of ever laugh.

Don Jose, from Far Rockaway. said...
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Don Jose, from Far Rockaway. said...

The real problem that the USA is facing today is between those people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who are not and who enjoy the live of being given handouts by the government, and vote just the same.

If you remember, President Barack Obama defended those lazy louts in his last State of the Union speech .. The very same people who want the government to redistribute wealth are the people who don't work for it. Socialism has destroyed so many countries in the past. It creates laziness, and crime in my opinion. Look at the inner cities of this nation, like Detroit for example.

Jarhead said...

Getting a Free lunch means more that getting something to eat for nothing!

Sam Huntington said...

I think the way this works is that when educational systems lower their standards, more people achieve success. The more people achieve success, the more self-esteem they have, and the more fulfilled they will be. Of course, this only lasts until it is time to leave school and begin working for a living. I’m not certain how the inability to find a job helps anyone’s self-esteem or their confidence level. But, by then, it probably doesn’t matter. They are all worried about the environment, think America is unexceptional, know in the hearts that Moslem extremism is our fault, and proud of voting for America’s first black American president.

Oh, and 52% of these same people didn’t know that Obama Care would cause as much as a 40% increase in their (now) mandatory health insurance plans.

Heh.

Anonymous said...

How many Americans do you think would understand the moral of that story?

JonBerg said...

I see this as just another form of inflation, tantamount to printing worthless money. There's plenty of that going on, as well! If we don't turn things around, we are doomed, pure and simple!

Z said...

FT...much too close to the truth, isn't it, as I said in my post. What a mess, though I DID see some stats the other day that showed American college kids still DO much better than other countries; kind of pleased and surprised me.

My News...And Romney got so slammed for admitting that we have a LOT of people on the dole. And we tout our welfare program IN MEXICO, did you know that? "Come to America..we'll feed you free!" Unreal.

Jarhead, it sure does.

Sam....thankfully, I know a COUPLE of kids who didn't buy into the Obama/Messiah mystique. But FEW. Adults..? They have no excuse.
By the way...."Affordable Care" is driving my employment's insurance up more than 50%..it's AWFUL.
What was AFFORDABLE about it again? And who is it AFFORDABLE to?

ConsonFire..not many.

JB, I SO hope you're wrong, but...

Z said...

My goodness...it's 10 AM PST and not one lib's called me a racist for this joke...
I must be losing my touch :-)

Unknown said...

I saw something similar to this a few years back; teaching math to ghetto kids. It was hardly PC and I thought then, it might be humorous were it not for the sad fact that it was painfully realistic. One word problem was, “Jasmine gets $200 for each trick she turns in the hood …”

The lack of criticism from the left is their way of accepting responsibility for dumbing down America.

Bob said...

Well, the math hasn't changed, and the teachers haven't changed. it's the system that has morphed into an excuse generator for poor performance.

The unintelligent (like Liberalmann) will always be with us.

On the other hand, our school systems can do with a kick in the rear. I think the idea of granting families vouchers for their kids to go to any school they wish is a GREAT idea. My retired, public school teacher wife disagrees with me, but I am always right.

I attended a local technical college for a couple of years to learn web programming, and met a LOT if kids. They are mostly intelligent and competitive. Today's kids are just as capable of learning math as any in history.

George Bush's "No Child Left Behind" was not totally successful. Kids are still being left behind because of the education bureaucracy, and teachers' unions.

Ed Bonderenka said...

We can't hold students back for being slow.
So the class is held back for them.
Then the brighter kids get bored and wander the room.
Then they're given Ritalin so that they can be "focused"
I said most of this on Bennett toda5, but technical glitches limited what was broadcast.

Anonymous said...

Z,
I remember as a kid how I was mesmerized by the cashier at our store as she would fire up the keys on the cash register doing all the coupons and stuff in her head. Outstanding.

I watched my Dad add a column of figures in his checkbook using a pencil and his brain. He used to have us kids write down a long list of numbers on paper after which he would add them up while moving his finger down the list.

He would memorize a whole stack of zip codes and be tested on them the next day. He was just a common postal clerk.

He got his education in an orphanage. The system doesn't up now does it?

Z said...

L&O...they don't make 'em like that anymore. It sounds like there was nothing "common" about your dad!

I know some VERY bright kids where I work, but they're so spoiled and somehow 'expectant'...I can't describe it better than that.
I adore most of the kids, but man, SENIORITIS takes hold and they become different human beings, too! :-)
Still, some excel at numbers like your dad (tho I'm not sure their memories are that good!) and physics and English, etc...

I can sure see why you love teaching.

Anonymous said...
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(((Thought Criminal))) said...

A truckload of wood for $100? When I was selling firewood, $100 would get you around half a cord, if I felt generous. ;)

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

(two cords would fit on my truck)

FreeThinke said...
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