K-12: The Math You Need Is Not the Math You Get

[rangerrebew]

November 10, 2017
K-12: The Math You Need Is Not the Math You Get
By Bruce Deitrick Price

Learning school subjects should be like learning anything else in life.  You start at the beginning, proceed step by step, master more difficult aspects, and become skilled.  Isn't that how we learn to drive a car, build a doghouse, play the piano, surf, or operate a computer?  Of course.  That's how we humans do it.

But our Education Establishment does not approve.  Those in the Education Establishment insist on doing everything in inefficient, likely to fail ways, something like taking a child to a busy street and saying, Now, let's see you parallel park.  Lots of adults, with years of experience, avoid parallel parking.  But our schools (this is the essence of Common Core) put a 15-year-old in this stressful situation on the theory that he will be able to handle stress better in the future.  No, many are scarred and never try parallel parking again.

Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/11/k12_the_math_you_need_is_emnotem_the_math_you_get.html#ixzz4y2jzH5pU
 

[ConstitutionRose]

They wanted to hold my grandson back in kindergarten (he missed 75 days due to illness) based on reading skills.  During the summer I taught him phonics and he started 1st grade reading on the 2nd and 1/2 grade level.  They threatened to flunk him in 1st grade because he REFUSED to do all the stupid stuff in Common Core math.  He just wrote down the correct answer.  They finally decided to let him pass when (i) I hired an attorney;  and (2) he tested on the 5th grade level in math.  In the 2nd grade he went to a private school.

It's like they are deliberately trying to keep the kids ignorant and without skills.

[roamer_1]

It's like they are deliberately trying to keep the kids ignorant and without skills.

I think they are. I am 55, but even back in the day, it was so - I can do math, even into pretty moderate trig, but I see it in my head. I don't calculate like they want me to, and in fact I can't do it the way they want it.

As an example, in addition, I do it exactly backwards from how they proposed to teach it - Adding and averaging the big numbers together, and then dealing with the remainder. I have even been told it is a fault in me that I can't see little numbers inside of bigger ones.

But I can do geometry and trig in my head and give you the correct answer. 

[Fishrrman]

Rose wrote:
"They threatened to flunk him in 1st grade because he REFUSED to do all the stupid stuff in Common Core math.  He just wrote down the correct answer.  They finally decided to let him pass when (i) I hired an attorney;  and (2) he tested on the 5th grade level in math.  In the 2nd grade he went to a private school."

You did the right thing.

I'm amazed at the number of parents who -- after going through stuff like this -- CONTINUE sending their kids to "publik skool" ...

[GtHawk]

Rose wrote:
"They threatened to flunk him in 1st grade because he REFUSED to do all the stupid stuff in Common Core math.  He just wrote down the correct answer.  They finally decided to let him pass when (i) I hired an attorney;  and (2) he tested on the 5th grade level in math.  In the 2nd grade he went to a private school."

You did the right thing.

I'm amazed at the number of parents who -- after going through stuff like this -- CONTINUE sending their kids to "publik skool" ...

I'm sure the vast majority of parents would love to have their kids attend private schools, unfortunately economics often get in the way.

[Applewood]

When I was in 7th grade, the school district introduced "Modern Math."  The supposed purpose of Modern Math was to prepare students for higher math such as algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus.  Well, my basic math skills left a lot to be desired and since I waned to go to college where higher math skills were required, my parents and I thought this Modern Math might help me. 

Well, it didn't.  In fact, Modern Math made my already shaky math skills worse.  The teacher did his best to explain it and even tutored, on his own time, those of us who were lost, but honestly, I'm not sure even he fully understood Modern Math. 

I barely passed the course, and in ninth grade I did try algebra, but I failed miserably.  So I had to give up any hope of a university education.  Went to a business school instead.  Disappointed my parents.

And by the way, Modern Math was ultimately discontinued in my local school district after I had suffered through it for two long years.

[Applewood]

They wanted to hold my grandson back in kindergarten (he missed 75 days due to illness) based on reading skills.  During the summer I taught him phonics and he started 1st grade reading on the 2nd and 1/2 grade level.  They threatened to flunk him in 1st grade because he REFUSED to do all the stupid stuff in Common Core math.  He just wrote down the correct answer.  They finally decided to let him pass when (i) I hired an attorney;  and (2) he tested on the 5th grade level in math.  In the 2nd grade he went to a private school.

It's like they are deliberately trying to keep the kids ignorant and without skills.

Public schools are run by commies whose ultimate goal is to take over the US, destroy our freedoms and make us dependent on government bureaucracy for our very lives.  They want a dumbed down population because stupid people are easier to control. 

[ConstitutionRose]

I'm sure the vast majority of parents would love to have their kids attend private schools, unfortunately economics often get in the way.

My daughter and son-in-law sold their house and moved as well as make continuing sacrifices to keep him in private school.  He is very high IQ and I am proud of his parents for doing what is necessary.  Both my husband and I and my x-husband contribute.  In fact, my granddaughter (sons's daughter) is in a private prep school because the grandparents are helping pay tuition and she has received scholarships.  As grandparents we decided it was the most important thing we could do for them.

[Applewood]

My daughter and son-in-law sold their house and moved as well as make continuing sacrifices to keep him in private school.  He is very high IQ and I am proud of his parents for doing what is necessary.  Both my husband and I and my x-husband contribute.  In fact, my granddaughter (sons's daughter) is in a private prep school because the grandparents are helping pay tuition and she has received scholarships.  As grandparents we decided it was the most important thing we could do for them.

Bravo to all of you for making the sacrifices for the grandkids.  I know if I had kids or grandkids, I would move heaven and earth to send them somewhere other than public schools.