Why don't American schools use grid paper?

[paulney]

When I was growing up in Russia, the grid paper had me!

For arts and humanities we used regular notepads, but for anything math or science related we used notepads with grid paper! OMG, it was so awesome! Most math and geometry problems are ten times easier to write down on grid and draw a sketch or do long multiplication or division on grid paper rather than on regular linear-lined pages.

Why don't American schools use it more? It's practically impossible to find at office or department stores unless you are looking specifically for graph paper, which is in its own class entirely. Regular grid paper (see blow) is just not used in schools or in colleges.

How come?

 

[Zeze]

We did use them.

But it's not required even for math. Many geometry problems say 'shown not to scale', so you use your brain more. I think that takes more skill. It's the actual numbers that's important, not the proportional visual representation.

 

[Matthiasa]

If you looked and didn't find it you didn't look hard enough...

 

[LTC8K6]

Used it when I went to school. I still see it in stores.

 

[FelixDeCat]

In Soviet Russia grid paper uses you!

 

[darkswordsman17]

We did use them.

But it's not required even for math. Many geometry problems say 'shown not to scale', so you use your brain more. I think that takes more skill. It's the actual numbers that's important, not the proportional visual representation.

The thing is I think grid paper would help a lot, if just the teachers. Some people have absolutely atrocious legibility and grid paper seems to help (one square per number for instance in math). I think it also would help many people visualizing what they're doing with the math (again, each number gets a separate square so when doing certain parts they get them aligned properly).

The biggest boost would be to people that typically struggle with math and science, as it seems like people who are good with it either already do things to improve legibility and accuracy, or don't struggle with visualizing things as much.

We used it, but fairly sparingly. It actually became an issue because of that, where when we would get graph paper some people would be so intent on getting it right that they would struggle with the rest (the math part or understanding what the graph/chart/image is actually about; instead they'd be hyperfocused on neatness because to them it was a signal or needing to be extra critical about that aspect).

 

[DCal430]

We used it in my high school, it was also used in my university. It just wasn't used exclusivly.

 

[nageov3t]

we used grid paper in high school as punishment.

detention in my highschool was called "judgement under god" -- you had to report to a classroom after school where a bible verse was written on the blackboard and you were given a sheet (or two, I don't remember) of grid paper.

you had to fill the page, both sides, one letter per box writing the bible verse over and over again before you could leave.


but outside of that, I only remember using it in geometry (and when I was drawing dungeon maps for D&D )

 

[Soundmanred]

We did use them.

 

[CPA]

We used it in my high school, it was also used in my university. It just wasn't used exclusivly.

Shens! No way you've graduated high school yet. I would put money down that you haven't even hit puberty.

 

[mk]

we used grid paper in high school as punishment.

detention in my highschool was called "judgement under god" -- you had to report to a classroom after school where a bible verse was written on the blackboard and you were given a sheet (or two, I don't remember) of grid paper.

you had to fill the page, both sides, one letter per box writing the bible verse over and over again before you could leave.

but outside of that, I only remember using it in geometry (and when I was drawing dungeon maps for D&D )

That's nothing. In high school we used to make grid paper as punishment. We were given notepads of blank paper, a pen and a ruler and no one was leaving until they had the whole pad all gridded up. If the work wasn't perfectly done you'd have to do another one.

I hate grid paper!

 

[Murloc]

In my country we exclusively use grid paper, because it helps people size the letters and margins correctly.
Also if you have to draw a graph or a 90° angle it's very useful.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Reminds us of the metric system, can't have that.

 

[kathi b]

We used graph paper. Graduated HS in 2001.

What's the difference between grid paper and graph paper?

 

[coxmaster]

As others have said, in college it's pretty common. All but 1 of my classes require engineering paper for everything.

Highschool, not so much.

 

[Arcadio]

I've always wondered about this too. I used graph paper notebooks for all of my math and science classes back in Colombia. It was so much neater.

 

[waggy]

we used it all the time in high school and college.

no idea why you say they don't now.

 

[BrokenVisage]

I'm just glad they still teach cursive in school. It's the ONLY way to write.

 

[AMCRambler]

I think my brother used grid paper when he was in school during the 70's and 80's. By the time I was in school everything was on loose leaf paper. I agree, writing math equations would definitely have been easier on grid paper. I don't know why they went away from it other than its cheaper to buy one kind of paper rather than two. You make a good point.

 

[nageov3t]

I'm just glad they still teach cursive in school. It's the ONLY way to write.

my keyboard disagrees.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Two reasons:

1) The D&D club used it all for mapping dungeons

2) American schools don't teach math and science.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

I am also from eastern europe, and also had asked the same question. My reasoning is that loose leaf paper is much cheaper, so people tend to hoard that stuff. Also, main writing tool in america is pencil, not pen, so when you make a mistake, you try to erase, and it will become just a bloated mess on grid paper.

 

[Squisher]

I always thought the engineering graph paper was neat. It had a grid on the back side which could faintly be seen through to the front side.

 

[nageov3t]

Two reasons:

1) The D&D club used it all for mapping dungeons

2) American schools don't teach math and science.

what would you use graph paper for in science?

or at least the standard biology/chemistry/geology stuff taught at the pre-college level.

 

[Fenixgoon]

we used grid paper in high school as punishment.

detention in my highschool was called "judgement under god" -- you had to report to a classroom after school where a bible verse was written on the blackboard and you were given a sheet (or two, I don't remember) of grid paper.

you had to fill the page, both sides, one letter per box writing the bible verse over and over again before you could leave.


but outside of that, I only remember using it in geometry (and when I was drawing dungeon maps for D&D )

wow, i thought my school was the only one to have JUG!