Re:Poll: How much calculation work should be taught in schools?
by solipsist on Monday February 14, 2011 @01:17AM
(#2215572)
> ...if I had any confidence there was anybody left in the education system that actually has any clue about what "math" is anymore
Yes, I think you are right. Reminds me of Richard Feynman's views of the education system as expressed in his book, Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman.
You need comfort with numbers to learn math, but as any number of math professors can demonstrate on demand, you can get an awfully long way with single-digit multiplication and addition and not being able to do much else. It's the rare algebra problem that has you multiplying 37 by 23 if it isn't explicitly a fraction problem.
I'd support splitting the terminology up.
Or I would support a terminology split, if I had any confidence there was anybody left in the education system that actually has any clue about what "math" is anymore. Until you solve this problem it's all moving deck chairs around on the Titanic. And I mean the Titanic of today, sitting there long sunk, not the usual metaphorical sinking Titanic.