A funny from reader Doug............
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 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 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?
1 comment:
I was out driving a few Augusts ago when the traffic lights went out. I thought it was just the city I was driving in so I continued several miles to the craft store where I needed to shop. On arrival, the power was out in the building (not too surprising since ALL the traffic lights were out along the way).
I waited around for a while to see if the power would come back. I needed only one thing so I asked if I could pay cash and go my way. NO ONE could do a transaction because there was no tax table and no one could do math. It was a craft store so one could assume they had some sort of receipt pad & calculators that could have been taken right off the shelf so all the items could be entered in to the computer later.
It was a real eye-opener that not a single employee could be trusted to do simple addition and percentage calculations. All that anyone has to do is be able to read the numbers off the cash register.
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