Flame me if you will, but I think a Math Epidemic is a good thing.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

I think kids should use more Math.

If they're only using a little Math, they should try to use more!

I know, some of you are going to say that just a little Math could end up leading to hard core Calculus or String theory... or even Chaos! (theory).

I'll admit it, I'm a Math user... Daily. And it hasn't hurt me yet.

[Junkdrawer]

1. Emily Litella

Never mind...

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. Flame me, but I don't think....

kindergarteners and first graders need calculators. They are required in my school district.

;)

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. I concur. That grates on me.

[htuttle]

5. Dear Lord, the children!

Won't somebody think of the children!

[Moochy]

3. Math Mouth!!

http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/Lessons/1765.htm
Oh the horror!

[wli]

6. absolutely

This arithmetic "rote drill for a decade" stuff is far beyond stupid.

What needed to go on was a forced march through arithmetic, then algebraic manipulation, then the integral and differential calculi, then the calculus of variations (to be fed into Hamiltonian mechanics in other sciences), then the Malliavin calculus, and so on. And this during primary and secondary education.

Doing something like this can't be done overnight, it has to be bootstrapped. And it's never going to happen, because Peak Oil is going to grind industrial society to a halt because it and other efforts to raise an "intellectual army" to tackle the energy crisis weren't done in advance.

[Birthmark]

8. I don't know.

Your post just doesn't add up.

[wli]

9. Maybe not. Where do you see the holes?

It's an off-the-cuff assessment, not gospel. Throw me a bone or two here.

[Lannes]

7. "Your DU Lounge tricks wont work on me boy"

:P

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. We should be more worried about violins on TV

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

13. I saw a show last night with BOTH SAX & VIOLINS!

[queeg]

11. Trig --daily user

I can teach anyone Trigonometry within an hour, and I will make you understand it.

Requires a 2x4 and lots of Pr0n, so my method ain't gonna be in the schools anytime soon

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

18. Ummmm. Think I'll pass today, thanks.

[newswolf56]

12. It's the continued availability of therapeutic math that worries me...

especially with all the rumors the Bush Administration intends to outlaw it (and all other forms of science) as "gateway drugs" leading inevitably to ever stronger addiction to heresy.

[jody]

14. Agree, math-science deficiencies are the mark of third world countries.

The only good news is that we only need a few hundred thousand truly brilliant people to prepare us for the 22nd century.

A brief digression, I believe the number of students with learning disabilities is 2-4% of a typical class and the same percentage of students are gifted. I understand that for ever $11 we spend on students with learning disabilities, we spend 2 cents for gifted students.

Without taking anything away from students with learning disabilities, we need to balance the scale and give gifted students an opportunity.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. LOL

Funniest post today.

[ismnotwasm]

16. I'm into Chaos, dude.

Makes sense. Actually it took years for me to "get" math. I began to enjoy it, now I want more. I'm not good at it, but I like it.

[JDPriestly]

17. You are absolutely correct.

Everybody uses math every day. A lot of people don't realize they are using it or at least could use it for situations that arise. And even if there is someone who doesn't use it every day, every child should use it every day because using math trains the mind. Math is fun. I played counting and other math games with my kids as soon as they were old enough to catch on. I wasn't trying to teach them anything. I just thought it was fun. You should have seen their SAT scores. The scores were an unintended consequence. Music is a good compliment to math. Somehow talent in music and math often go together.