Quote:
Originally Posted by Katsunami
Am I good at math? No.
Am I bad at math? No.
I can do most of what you'd learn in college, but I don't know most of the more advanced definitions by heart anymore. I'm also slow when calculating. However, if you give me a sheet with the definitions (or some time to study) and some sums to do, I'll probably get all of them correct. So, I think my mediocre/slow math skills are just mediocre due to a lack of practice, just because I don't use them very often. (As a software engineer/programmer, I'm obviously very strong at logic-based math, but still not very fast.)
However in the Netherlands, we're in a real bind now.
When people apply to become a teacher, it turns out they can't do math. And I don't mean advanced calculus or university level physics; I mean basic stuff that a 12 y/o should be able to do. Like:
* Calculate 25 / 7 to two decimals without a calculator.
* 5 * -4 = -20
* X and Y each have 10 peanuts. X gives 1 peanut to Y. How many more peanuts does Y have now? (Yes, some get that wrong by answering "1".)
There are now tests in place for people who want to become prep school teachers... they have to make the same exams a 12 y/o has to make, and they have to pass it or get remedial teaching during summer before starting classes. (At least, it was thus when I last heard of this.)
I think it's absurd that 17-19 y/o are unable to do THAT kind of math.
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Can I have a piece for those math problems?
Can you balance a checkbook and know how much change you should get back?
That is what I mean by the basics.
That school district couldn't be bothered to even teach that.
One student I met couldn't do 7-4.
How are these students supposed to not get taken advantage of?
I could have understood if the students had limited mental facilities, but because they were physically handicapped the school district treated them like they had no brain at all.
Then these students have to take at least 4 remedial courses in math before they even start the accredited classes. So either them or us is out more money because the school district would not teach.
Now I will give it that one of those students was virtually impossible to teach because they didn't bother to work on his speech either.
Luckily, once he got his degree (won't rant but suffice to say he was just passed there too), he found a job where he did get help with his speech.
25/7=3.57
Hey I think I managed it.
Y has two more peanuts than X.