The Horror, The Horror
Being left-brain impaired I have a tendency to go into the fetal position at the sight of long division. But somehow I managed to make it through this video (H/T: Society for Quality Education) makes the case for a return to traditional math learning.
Which method is best? Well, I'm the last person who should be giving anyone advice how to learn math, but why not encourage competition and let the results speak for themselves?
posted by Matt at 12:15 AM
7 Comments:
I don't agree with the wholesale changes to the "other" systems. I think they are suitable to try when someone is having difficulties with the traditional method, or possibly for use in advanced classes as an example of not only math but reasoning processes.
I can remember both my brother-in-law and myself trying to help my niece with her math homework one night several years ago. The exercise was just as frustrating for us as it was for her. It took us several hours to figure out what should have been 30 minutes of work.
Things like this video always make me think of Ontario's use of the Whole Language learning concept. Produced a whole generation of kids who can't spell.
January 27, 2007 4:28 AM
That Society's video is ok but can you tell us what this group is? My sister-in-law said they are snobby parents from private and rich families.
January 27, 2007 9:20 AM
Sorry anon. but I hate to burst your sister-in-laws bubble but the people at SQE are simply parents who through their experience with the public system got the hell out. Some took second jobs, some homeschooled, but the common thread is that they, like many other have realized that nothing short of fully-funded choices for parents will be the solution for what's ailing our public systems.
January 27, 2007 9:25 AM
Also, the video was not produced by the Society, and the link to their website doesn't work.
January 27, 2007 9:26 AM
What a nightmare for the highschool math teachers. In my opinion, the basics of calculus should be introduced in about gr 10, but that would be impossible if they're still mastering 5x4.
January 27, 2007 11:44 AM
My apologies for the broken link, it is now fixed.
The SQE advocates for greater choice in education. This includes tax credits to allow middle and lower income families to send their children to private schools (rich families do it with or without tax credits) and charter schools which are publicly funded independant schools. Charter schools have been used very successfully in Alberta to provide real competition to the public school board.
You can see a video on charter schools by going to: http://www.fcpp.org/main/media_file_wm.php?StreamID=369
January 27, 2007 11:59 AM
Just a point of clarification, Society for Quality Education (www.societyforqualityeducation.org) did not make the You Tube video.
January 27, 2007 5:07 PM
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