Why are Math Skills Declining?

[Guest]

Something as simple as remembering the times table up to 12x12 doesn't need the enormous amount of time wasted. This is simply a "well, that's how me and my pappy done learned it and if it was good enough for us then ... ."

It is always better to use these things in real life situations that illustrate to students the reasons why they are learning something. What Moonlight said.

Yes, I agree.

[Topaz]

Does anyone think that maybe tech. is making people lazy? Before calculators students had to use their brain now, its all machines and the brain is getting lazy and of course, kids doing drugs doesn't help the brain. How many student in high school can write a cheque or make change?

[Wilber]

Something as simple as remembering the times table up to 12x12 doesn't need the enormous amount of time wasted. This is simply a "well, that's how me and my pappy done learned it and if it was good enough for us then ... ."

It is always better to use these things in real life situations that illustrate to students the reasons why they are learning something. What Moonlight said.

Learning to and practicing memorization is not time wasted. Regardless of our dependence on electronic aids, our brain requires it to stay fit. It allows them to function when their phone battery goes dead.

I agree on the practical applications though. Give the gear head boys who hate math, problems like, if you have a wheel and tire with a diameter of 31 inches, a final drive ratio of 3.73 : 1 and a 3rd gear ratio of 2.1 : 1, how fast can you go in third before you reach the engines peak 6000 RPM? And do it without a calculator.

[eyeball]

I'm just guessing but somewhere close to 50 mph.

[Freddy]

Kids still act like animal version of humans for lack of a better explanation . It makes things difficult.

The program seems to be built without taking this into consideration . You have to domesticate a animal before you can teach him some tricks.

Domestication of our children is a extremely long process due to the complexity of our systems. Basic human instinct and impulses are often in violation of the law.

Edited May 30, 2015 by Freddy

[On Guard for Thee]

Kids still act like animal version of humans for lack of a better explanation . It makes things difficult.

The program seems to be built without taking this into consideration . You have to domesticate a animal before you can teach him some tricks.

Domestication of our children is a extremely long process due to the complexity of our systems. Basic human instinct and impulses are often in violation of the law.

I am afraid to ask, but what is it in your instinct with regard to your idea of so called domestication of children that violates the law.

[Freddy]

I am afraid to ask, but what is it in your instinct with regard to your idea of so called domestication of children that violates the law.

You don't understand what I said.

Rule of law is domestication of humans

Humans have basic instincts like to hit others as a example.

To hit others is against the law.

You have to domesticate the children, so they can understand why they need the knowledge your trying to teach.

How can a child learn if he doesn't understand why it's so important that he does.

Edited May 30, 2015 by Freddy

[Argus]

A report by the far-right C.D. Howe Institute blames problems on Discovery Math. Is that fair? What about poverty? What about parents who don't care about education? It's easy to blame.

The C.D. Howe Institute is far right now?

The Institute's research has been cited by Liberal,[9] New Democrat[10] and Conservative[11] members of parliament. The media has described the Institute as a conservative,[12][13][14] non-partisan[15][16][17][18] and respected[19][20][21] think tank. It has a history of publishing research on both sides of the ideological spectrum, provided it is supported with empirical evidence.

[Je suis Omar]

Learning to and practicing memorization is not time wasted. Regardless of our dependence on electronic aids, our brain requires it to stay fit. It allows them to function when their phone battery goes dead.

.

I didn't say that all memorization is bad, Wilber. The times tables would naturally fall into place over time, thru, yes, memorization.

Odd that we stop at 12 times, when it's the numbers above 12 times that are the ones in need of real memorization. It's simply an educational artifact, similar in nature and efficacy to the myriad idiotic "grammar rules" everyone thinks they learned but nobody can remember.

Edited May 30, 2015 by Je suis Omar

[socialist]

The C.D. Howe Institute is far right now?

The Institute's research has been cited by Liberal,[9] New Democrat[10] and Conservative[11] members of parliament. The media has described the Institute as a conservative,[12][13][14] non-partisan[15][16][17][18] and respected[19][20][21] think tank. It has a history of publishing research on both sides of the ideological spectrum, provided it is supported with empirical evidence.

Let's just say that institute knows very little about public education.

[Freddy]

I believe the answer lies in the fundamentals. Its something simple on a very basic level. Something adults have forgotten about being a child.

[bush_cheney2004]

Does anyone think that maybe tech. is making people lazy?

Actually, we had slide rules....went to the Moon with them.

[Je suis Omar]

DELETED

Edited May 30, 2015 by Je suis Omar

[Je suis Omar]

Actually, we had slide rules....went to the Moon with them.

"we"

)

[Je suis Omar]

"we"

)

Actually, we had slide rules....went to the Moon with them.

"we"

[bush_cheney2004]

"we"

Yes...even Canadians helped...using American slide rules.

[cybercoma]

Yes...even Canadians helped...using American slide rules.

You don't want to talk about America's math skills. You're scraping the bottom of the barrel of industrialized nations.

[Wilber]

Yes...even Canadians helped...using American slide rules.

Sure they weren't German slide rules?

[bush_cheney2004]

You don't want to talk about America's math skills. You're scraping the bottom of the barrel of industrialized nations.

But I do....it's easy to count the number of Canadians cross border shopping...and never on the Moon.

[cybercoma]

But I do....it's easy to count the number of Canadians cross border shopping...and never on the Moon.

Clearly you don't since you tried to change the channel twice in this post alone. The pathetic failing American system isn't one any nation aspires to.

[bush_cheney2004]

Clearly you don't since you tried to change the channel twice in this post alone. The pathetic failing American system isn't one any nation aspires to.

Wrong again...Canada buys lots of American based curriculum. More emigres go to the U.S. than Canada...always have...always will.

Count that....

[cybercoma]

Wrong again...Canada buys lots of American based curriculum. More emigres go to the U.S. than Canada...always have...always will.

Count that....

That's even more pathetic then that America has such piss poor results despite actually having the curriculum to achieve better.

[bush_cheney2004]

Somebody has to worry about math in America all the time...may as well be somebody in Canada....trying to deflect poor scores.

[cybercoma]

Somebody has to worry about math in America all the time...may as well be somebody in Canada....trying to deflect poor scores.

Still doesn't change the fact that America's scores are considerably worse than Canada's despite you claiming we need America's "help."

[Argus]

Let's just say that institute knows very little about public education.

They can count, as in how many kids are doing lousy on Math tests.