kids nowadays have it so easy

[GagHalfrunt]

Math is all about broadening your horizons. Just because you seem to be math challenged doesn't mean the majority don't need or want more possibilities.

So are music, literature, science, history, athletics, poetry, and the birthdates of French kings. So freaking what? It doesn't mean that it's important or useful. If you teach Algebra, 14th century Scandinavian literature, Juxtabranchial organ secretions of the higher molluscs, Peruvian folk opera and organic chemistry in high school you're going to create individuals with broadened horizons and you're going to waste a whole lot of time and effort teaching a whole lot of stuff to a whole lot of people who won't ever use it for a single second. We need to churn out kids who have language, basic math and reasoning skills. The schools are failing on that, WTF is algebra doing for anyone?

And BTW, 760 math SATs in the days before calculators. I supervise about 50 people directly and am responsible pulling together projects of hundreds of people across a lot of different departments. And I have not used algebra once in 10 years.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

So are music, literature, science, history, athletics, poetry, and the birthdates of French kings. So freaking what? It doesn't mean that it's important or useful. If you teach Algebra, 14th century Scandinavian literature, Juxtabranchial organ secretions of the higher molluscs, Peruvian folk opera and organic chemistry in high school you're going to create individuals with broadened horizons and you're going to waste a whole lot of time and effort teaching a whole lot of stuff to a whole lot of people who won't every use it for a single second.

And BTW, 760 math SATs in the days before calculators. I supervise about 50 people directly and am responsible pulling together projects of hundreds of people cross lot of different departments. And I have not used algebra once in 10 years.

You never have to do ordering, use projections, budgeting or, any other type of estimation? If you do, you were using algebra. Training purely for specific jobs is a corporate wet dream and will guarantee you being eliminated the moment the job is over. Encouraging others to follow that mindset is duplicitous at best.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Schools. Who needs them when you are going to be a professional welfare benefactor?

 

[MongGrel]

What do you suggest kids take in highschool then? I was in advanced math so I didn't even take algebrae in highschool. I started with geometry, then algebrae 2, then pre-calc, then AP calc.

By this same thought process though, there's really no need to take american history, chemistry, biology, physics, etc, if you don't plan on going into that direction with a career.

STEM programs I would recommend for most people in high school these days

I was a FIRST mentor awhile.

I only took a few college courses in Philosophy and World History, myself in the past.

I never ventured into Calc myself, shop Trig worked even better than classroom Trig for me, and bit of knowledge of CNC programming.

I'm a bit outdated these days it seems, but STEM is a solid area for anyone in high school.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Math is a huge part of any STEM program. There's also the problem that few if any kids in high school have a solid idea in what direction they want to persue in work. I believe people need to drop the idea that the ONLY way to success is to go to college and, the ONLY time to go to college is immediately after high school.

 

[Kaido]

So are music, literature, science, history, athletics, poetry, and the birthdates of French kings. So freaking what? It doesn't mean that it's important or useful. If you teach Algebra, 14th century Scandinavian literature, Juxtabranchial organ secretions of the higher molluscs, Peruvian folk opera and organic chemistry in high school you're going to create individuals with broadened horizons and you're going to waste a whole lot of time and effort teaching a whole lot of stuff to a whole lot of people who won't ever use it for a single second. We need to churn out kids who have language, basic math and reasoning skills. The schools are failing on that, WTF is algebra doing for anyone?

And BTW, 760 math SATs in the days before calculators. I supervise about 50 people directly and am responsible pulling together projects of hundreds of people across a lot of different departments. And I have not used algebra once in 10 years.

There are things I am planning on teaching my kids that I wish I had been taught in school. Namely:

1. Financial basics & how to avoid unnecessary debt. Nearly everyone I know my age is up to their eyeballs in debt, either through student loans or bad financial habits or whatever. It can cripple you for years if you're not careful. Credit cards, education-related loans, mortgages, and car payments can all be good things if handled correctly, or can be a virtual prison if managed unwisely.

2. A solid work ethic & how to put up with stupid jobs. Being a good employee mostly boils down to staying on top of your work & keeping people in the loop about your status. An awful lot of people don't do that, so then you have to deal with excuses, evasiveness, etc. And also stuff like the art of looking busy (because no job requires 100% of your effort 100% of the time, other than maybe being an air traffic controller), typing skills, resume skills (aka show up early, with some extra copies of your resume, in at least a dress shirt & tie), etc.

3. Actually, speaking of job searching, learning about actual work experience (i.e. no job is as advertised) & also doing a bunch of mini-internships or job shadowing. Work is work. Dream jobs don't really exist, it's more about having a good attitude & doing something you like to do & hopefully having a good direct boss. Or running your own business, or whatever it is you want to do to contribute to society. Attitude is so crucial in how you experience your day to day living environment. It's amazing how many people are absolutely determined to have a bad time & not like their jobs.

I dunno. I have a lot of respect for education, but I also realize a large part of it is simply crowd control for younger people & there's a lot of waste going with your time. But most people aren't self-motivated & won't study or do stuff outside of school, so we need it. I guess managing customer expectations is another thing, not only in your job but in school. But there's also some magic in school, especially in the relationships you form with other people, the social skills you acquire, and the networking you do with other students & professors. I got my first "real" job thanks to a community college teacher who actually cared about her job & truly wanted to help her students; it literally paid double what I was making at the time & was a big lifestyle change for me. I was working like three retail & construction jobs at the time haha. Kept me busy but boy, going into an office, not dealing with the public, and having a livable wage was the bomb!

 

[Kaido]

Math is a huge part of any STEM program. There's also the problem that few if any kids in high school have a solid idea in what direction they want to persue in work. I believe people need to drop the idea that the ONLY way to success is to go to college and, the ONLY time to go to college is immediately after high school.

That's true...however...generally having a college education gives you significant financial & other benefits (like being able to work in an air-conditioned office) down the road. I service a lot of machine-control computers throughout my state & get to hang out in a lot of different shops & factories. I can tell you that there are an awful lot of guys who tell me they wish they had gone to college right out of high school so that they would be in a better earning position. Fortunately, more & more colleges are creating really good programs for adult learners & a huge amount of people are taking advantage of them, but then you're stuck going to school, while raising a family, while also being the provider, so I do think there is something to be said for higher education, despite what the media wants us to think about the millennial generation getting "useless" degrees.

But yeah...there's OJT, entrepreneurship, technical schools, work-training programs, all kinds of stuff out there that can provide a good work environment & a livable wage. I have several friends who have even worked their way up the McDonald's ladder & are doing really well financially. Opportunities are everywhere if you're willing to work, to learn, and to change what you're currently doing & try something new.

 

[rh71]

Do they even teach stuff like long division, multiplication etc these days by hand? Or is it all common core BS now? That confused the hell out of me when I saw an example online.

My 3rd graders still have to memorize the multiplication table, and to be honest, they memorized up to 12x12 (without having to study at home) faster than I thought - in a few weeks. They're not doing any long division yet but they can do things like 72/9 in their head just as easily as the multiplication table.

As for common core - I've only had insight while reviewing their homework. It's mostly been getting you to group and think to the nearest 100s, 10s, 1s. Say you have to add 789 and 196 in your head... make it 800 plus 200 and take away 15 (11 and 4). It certainly makes things faster allowing you to do it in your head - and it's quite logical. I'm not sure what the road ahead will look like but so far I have no problem with their doing things this way. What's more is that learning it this way as the only way they've ever known is actually pretty easy for them.