63 years of teaching math, The evolution

[Bill Verburg]

Sixty-Three Years of Math 1957-2020 In America: The evolution in teaching math since the 1950’s

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 2000s
If you have special needs or just feel you need assistance because of
race, color, religion, sex, age, childhood
memories, criminal background, then don't answer and the correct
answer will be provided for you.
There are no wrong answers.

7. Teaching Math in 2020
Un hachero vende una carrtada de maderapara 100 pesos. El costo de la producciones es 80 pesos. Cuanto dinero ha hecho?

[widebody911]

[silverc4s]

Verdade, señor.

[widebody911]

Teaching math in 2050:

記錄器銷售木材的卡車為100美元。他的生產成本
是價格的4/5。什麼是他的利潤？

[widgeon13]

I spent 35 years in the paper industry and that's pretty darned accurate.

[M.D. Holloway]

I stress this to my kiddos:

Math and English are the two most important course you will take in school. Master those and you will succeed.

[$ Short]

Thanks, I thought I was getting old and cranky.

[Schumi]

For being someone who learned math during the time in the middle of your list there, it's amazing I was able to earn multiple engineering degrees and, you know, be a productive member of society and all.

Every time I feel old I come by this board and feel young again. Ahhhhhhhh

[ZOO]

It's too bad there hasn't been any innovative, intelligent, and entrepreneurial spirit since the early part of the 20th Century . . . that "new" math has really put a damper on new ideas and products.

[GG Allin]

Originally Posted by ZOO

It's too bad there hasn't been any innovative, intelligent, and entrepreneurial spirit since the early part of the 20th Century . . . that "new" math has really put a damper on new ideas and products.

Yet American companies pretty much dominate the computer and web content intustries.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by ZOO

It's too bad there hasn't been any innovative, intelligent, and entrepreneurial spirit since the early part of the 20th Century . . . that "new" math has really put a damper on new ideas and products.

Not sure if this is supposed to be green or if your serious but I would argue that the spirit of entrepreneurialism is alive and well in this country - maybe now more then ever. Not sure if math has much to do with it though.

My daughter is taking algebra (in 6th grade) and my Son is taking geometry (10th grade) and it seems like they are teaching it the way I was years ago. I don't know if it is the best way though.

Seems like higher math is really about understanding the various 'tricks' to getting to the results. To truly understand the logic reasoning to the solution approach isn't easy to teach and even tougher to comprehend.

Principia Mathematica is the book Russell wrote with Alfred North Whitehead where they gave a logical foundation of Mathematics by developing the Theory of Types that obviated the Russell's paradox. Some idea of the scope and comprehensiveness of the “Principia” can be gleaned from the fact that it takes over 360 pages to prove definitively that 1 + 1 = 2.

What I tell my kids is that there may or may not be a time in the future when you have to apply algebra or geometry or any type of math but what you will have to do is follow a process by which to solve a problem and that is what math teaches you to do. Someone has already figured out the process, albeit complicated, just apply some thought and chug through it. If your really good you will look to make that process better if not then at least you can follow directions.

[ZOO]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

Not sure if this is supposed to be green or if your serious but I would argue that the spirit of entrepreneurialism is alive and well in this country - maybe now more then ever. Not sure if math has much to do with it though.

My daughter is taking algebra (in 6th grade) and my Son is taking geometry (10th grade) and it seems like they are teaching it the way I was years ago. I don't know if it is the best way though.

Seems like higher math is really about understanding the various 'tricks' to getting to the results. To truly understand the logic reasoning to the solution approach isn't easy to teach and even tougher to comprehend.



What I tell my kids is that there may or may not be a time in the future when you have to apply algebra or geometry or any type of math but what you will have to do is follow a process by which to solve a problem and that is what math teaches you to do. Someone has already figured out the process, albeit complicated, just apply some thought and chug through it. If your really good you will look to make that process better if not then at least you can follow directions.

Crap. Maybe I'd better make a thread called 65 Years of Teaching Irony and Hyperbole. I didn't think I would need to indicate those things with green font

[M.D. Holloway]

Oh you would be surprised! I can think of many arguments that began due to a lack of understanding certain comments were made in ironic context...