On 4/1/2011 2:26 PM, hugpug@aol.com wrote:
>
>
> It seems like they don't teach math any more because no one can do any
> math in their head on even on paper. It seems like everyone need a
> calculator. Some people have a hard time even counting change in their
> hand. If this is the way things are going than people are not getting
> smarter at all. A person should also be able to write more than just
> their name. I do not find it a "Good Thing" when people seem to be going
> down hill with writing or simple math.
> Carol
>
I understand not teaching writing cursive because it's not something
many people use. I always print when I write by hand because my
printing is much easier to read, and the purpose of writing is to
communicate clearly.
Be careful though about how you judge the teaching of math. It's one
thing if a subject simply isn't taught, as with cursive.
It's another thing entirely when a course is taught but many people
refuse to learn the material. This is the situation regarding math, in
my experience. I don't know of any school which doesn't teach math and
many have "extra rewards" rewards programs which involve take-home
sheets of extra math problems to be handed in for extra credit or
towards the goal of winning a prize. Yet still many students don't know
math. Whose fault is that?
As a private music teacher for over 30 years I know that what I teach
isn't always what some students care to learn. I've had private
students on all instruments make it into All-State Band and Orchestra
programs, I've had many go on to major in music in college and I've also
had many simply quit after a few months or a few years. I teach the
same material (more or less -- I try to gear it towards what I think the
student will best absorb) and I use essentially the same teaching style
with all my students and I don't have any preconceived timetables as to
when a student on a particular instrument needs to reach a certain
level. Yet some succeed and some fail -- I'm the same, it's the
students who differ. The same is true in math class -- some students
succeed and some fail. Some can't be bothered even trying. Much of
that is because of the support or lack thereof which they receive at
home. Many parents these days can't be bothered making sure their
children actually learn anything and then those same parents complain
when their children haven't learned anything.
So go easy on the teaching profession, please -- just because someone
hasn't learned doesn't mean they haven't been taught.
--
David H. Bailey
dhbailey@davidbaileymusicstudio.com
