Re: Is this math test too easy?

From: Tron99 (drstrangeglove99_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 11/20/04 

Date: 20 Nov 2004 09:31:54 -0800

Mxsmanic <mxsmanic@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<qvjsp01us3mm3iimtpha345fqq2n6o8qmt@4ax.com>...
> Philip Barlowe writes:
>
> > This raises the question about why kids are taught math at school. Is
> > it because they must learn some basic skills that are handy in
> > everyday life, or is it to stimulate a logical, structured way of
> > thinking?
>
> Tradition, I think. The same reason a number of other subjects are
> taught that are equally useless in ordinary life.
>
> The only math skills that really spring to mind as useful in normal life
> are the most basic arithmetic skills, and an understanding of decimal
> fractions. Calculators lessen the need for the former considerably.
>
> In junior high I was absolutely convinced that learning set theory was a
> total waste of my time. Now, with the experience of years behind me, I
> finally realize that ... I was right.
>
> I don't see how math stimulates a logical and structured way of
> thinking. Many aspects of math are extremely vague and imprecise,
> especially the notation (yet another reason why I hate pure math).

   I think it depends on how you go about learning something. The way
it is taught, they want to drill the subjects into you without your
doing research and thinking about it until you feel comfortable.
Classes are the problem. They could have had videos and books for the
individual to learn on his own by the very best rsearchers/teachers on
subjects that interest the student. Instead, everybody sits facing
the high priest, the teacher, and functions as a computer, learning
ONLY what is drilled in most cases. There really isn't that much
emphasis on independent learning. Now, for the real world, most of it
is in application. There is an issue with a technician who applies
math, but has no understanding of it. The technician can only perform
tasks on areas that he was drilled. He can drill himself on
technician type books, but that is distasteful. The fun comes when
you are a specialist who is a theorist, but you can handle, with fun,
new areas in your field, in my opinion.
    How many people do you know are working on some math or
enginnering type problems, even from a technician's point of view, let
alone theorists? The only theorists out there really are the
university researchers. University researchers are not all
mathematicians. That means that they are conducting research on areas
that they don't have a real comprehension of. You can see that there
is not an emphasis on math and comprehension out there in the real
world, other than universities, and on the few corporations that want
math-type thinkers. Now, if math theory and application were the
number one national goal, then you'd see these elementary schools and
high schools close down, and they'd be replaced by video/internet
learning, where people can learn at their own pace, and they can
collaborate with people. You wouldn't be worried about the math that
is needed to figure out your grocery bill. You'd be working on some
project out there that improves humanity.
>
> > I'd say the better school is clearly the latter, even though you have
> > to learn stuff that makes you say "why am I learning this? Why do I
> > need to know this?"
>
> The most useful thing I ever learned in school was where to place my
> fingers on a keyboard in order to touch-type. (No, I'm not joking.)