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xepherys · 01-23-2008, 05:55 AM

I have to say I agree with some of the commentary here, but disagree with the preferable outcome.

Mathematics is, for all intent and purpose, a hard science. Like other hard sciences such as chemistry and physics, mathematics is a practice of truths and a building block to more advanced topics.

While many students may "hate" math or "hate" science, it does not move me to believe that the system is flawed. A lot of students hate gym class, too. Perhaps we should relegate it to the ages and replace it with nothing but games of tag and hide and seek. Sounds a bit lame, no? If the purpose of gym is to promote physical well being, the purpose of math and science is to promote mental well being and logical comprehension.

I do agree that the American public educational system is flawed, but I believe that flaw to be the fact that it is already entirely too simplistic. Education isn't about fun and games, it's about learning, gaining knowledge to some greater point. Sure, not every kid is going to be a physicist or engineer. But then, not every kid is going to be an athlete or musician. Should we get rid of or lessen those endeavors? Not every kid will grow up to be a writer or editor, so do we really need to teach them grammar? Proper punctuation? Not every kid will be a historian. Not every kid will be anything. *shrug* You still have to learn as much as you can in different fields to help you determine what you WILL be when you grow up. The country is already on the educational fast track to a society of burger flippers with the education we have now. Why make it worse?

Teaching kids how to solve "4⅜ ÷ 1⅔" as mentioned in the above excerpt isn't about turning them into a human calculator or making them do tricks akin to a seal balancing a ball. It's about teaching them toe process so that it may be applied to other things. Something as simple as fractions are important on a mainstream level. Hell, just shopping I overhear people trying to figure out what 25% off an item will come out to. If people can't even learn to do that, we're pretty damned hopeless.

01-23-2008, 05:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
xepherys <3 TFP Location: 17TLH2445607250	I have to say I agree with some of the commentary here, but disagree with the preferable outcome. Mathematics is, for all intent and purpose, a hard science. Like other hard sciences such as chemistry and physics, mathematics is a practice of truths and a building block to more advanced topics. While many students may "hate" math or "hate" science, it does not move me to believe that the system is flawed. A lot of students hate gym class, too. Perhaps we should relegate it to the ages and replace it with nothing but games of tag and hide and seek. Sounds a bit lame, no? If the purpose of gym is to promote physical well being, the purpose of math and science is to promote mental well being and logical comprehension. I do agree that the American public educational system is flawed, but I believe that flaw to be the fact that it is already entirely too simplistic. Education isn't about fun and games, it's about learning, gaining knowledge to some greater point. Sure, not every kid is going to be a physicist or engineer. But then, not every kid is going to be an athlete or musician. Should we get rid of or lessen those endeavors? Not every kid will grow up to be a writer or editor, so do we really need to teach them grammar? Proper punctuation? Not every kid will be a historian. Not every kid will be anything. shrug You still have to learn as much as you can in different fields to help you determine what you WILL be when you grow up. The country is already on the educational fast track to a society of burger flippers with the education we have now. Why make it worse? Teaching kids how to solve "4⅜ ÷ 1⅔" as mentioned in the above excerpt isn't about turning them into a human calculator or making them do tricks akin to a seal balancing a ball. It's about teaching them toe process so that it may be applied to other things. Something as simple as fractions are important on a mainstream level. Hell, just shopping I overhear people trying to figure out what 25% off an item will come out to. If people can't even learn to do that, we're pretty damned hopeless. __________________ The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible... -- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato My Homepage