There's a phrase I don't see every day. Are you a rocket scientist Frick?
- Status
There's a phrase I don't see every day. Are you a rocket scientist Frick?
No, but I sure wish I was. NASA/Glenn is nearby. Those people make a lot of money.
I use algebra all the time to figure discounts. Consider something: my competition has a sale. He's offering the same product I sell for $32.50 after 18% off. I need to know "18% off of what?", to know his starting point. Algebra. Piece of cake. (Although ratios also work well.)
I use it in some way just about every day.
$39.64 ?
Can you sell Bloogs there?
Can you sell Bloogs there?
No, but I sure wish I was. NASA/Glenn is nearby. Those people make a lot of money.
I use algebra all the time to figure discounts. Consider something: my competition has a sale. He's offering the same product I sell for $32.50 after 18% off. I need to know "18% off of what?", to know his starting point. Algebra. Piece of cake. (Although ratios also work well.)
I use it in some way just about every day.
Nice. Did you use algebra? I'm always curious about these things.
And no.
I used: let's start with 40.00, ok now 39.50, how about 39.70, hmm 39.65? close, 39.64 yay.
I always liked geometry myself. It taught me how to always find x:
LOL, I remember that one. Cracked me up.
Not the asian kids around here! Seriously, english is a required subject in Chinese schools, but you'd never guess it from how few people can actually speak or read it. OTOH, I don't suppose that's any different than in the US. How many of us took Spanish or French in high school, but can't speak a word of it today.
But without that rote learning and memorization the kids don't learn the knowledge base that is necessary for critical thinking and understanding.
When I referred to entitlement I was implying that parents feel that their child should get good grades whether or not the child actually earned it. Entitlement (to me) = Expectation of benefit or reward without the requisite effort or sacrifice.
I should have explained this more fully rather than just stating the concept.
I should have explained this more fully rather than just stating the concept.
x=5
Seriously... no other subject was more critical to future success in daily business life than Algebra / Calculus.
I would agree, but there needs to be more then that. For good problem solving skills you need to be able to apply that knowledge. I think critical thinking comes more from experience rather then text books, so a good healthy balance of both is needed.
Not the asian kids around here! Seriously, english is a required subject in Chinese schools, but you'd never guess it from how few people can actually speak or read it. OTOH, I don't suppose that's any different than in the US. How many of us took Spanish or French in high school, but can't speak a word of it today.
I took 4 years of French. I can say "blow out the candles" and "you are stupid"
Not the asian kids around here! Seriously, english is a required subject in Chinese schools, but you'd never guess it from how few people can actually speak or read it. OTOH, I don't suppose that's any different than in the US. How many of us took Spanish or French in high school, but can't speak a word of it today.
I'm surprised to hear that. A guy I used to work for took a vacation to China and was surprised how many people spoke English, especially younger people. But that was years ago.
I know the children in Japan learn English quite early.
Just about everyone I've met here who speaks English learned it as an adult, usually as part of a business course. They all say they took classes in primary school, but didn't really learn anything. And none of the school age kids living in my apartment complex can say more than "Hello, how are you?" (Which they always take great delight in asking me, over and over, one after another, EVERY time they see me!) And this is a luxury complex, these kids are going to expensive private schools, not the public schools.
I speak Spanish with a cartoonish Chinese accent, not intentionally, just how it comes out.
crbrown, I hear ya now, totally different from the way I read entitlement. I heard a parent complain that less than half the students in a class had A's so clearly the teacher wasn't doing his job. Really? Nowhere near 1/2 the adults I see seem to have an A caliber brain!
crbrown, I hear ya now, totally different from the way I read entitlement. I heard a parent complain that less than half the students in a class had A's so clearly the teacher wasn't doing his job. Really? Nowhere near 1/2 the adults I see seem to have an A caliber brain!
As a parent I can understand where that "my kid can do no wrong" attitude comes from, but really we do the child no favors by that.
I think it's a bit sad that at parent conferences my husband and I get thanked by the teachers for both of us showing up and taking an active role. I see their education as more our job then anybody else.
ps: I totally get what you were talking about with the entitlement attitude and would agree that there is way to much that supports and encourages that kind of thinking.
Last edited:
- Status
Similar threads
