Bill wrote:
> Math is under attack for the same reasons as grammar: that it is taught in
> isolation and it is boring, etc.
>
> It's under attack because so many students fail to learn it. Just check
out
> the math scores. They are generally terrible, except among those with an
> aptitude for math.
>
> As for students' ability to count small change, you have only to notice
> that cash registers now do all the figuring for cashiers--yet many
cashiers
> still have trouble counting the change to you.
>
> So it comes about that, as with grammar, there is now an effort to reform
> the teaching of math. The main proposal is that teach math in context and
> in practical situations.
>
> Bill
Bill, (growl!) how on
earth does anyone ever manage to teach
`out of context'? It seems to me that we
never can lack a context. So what is the point
of striving towards teaching `in context'?
Sophie
----- Original Message -----
From: William J. McCleary <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2001 11:46 PM
Subject: Re: Grammar and Literature -- Help Please
> Sophie write:
>
> >As soon as `the teaching or grammar' crops
> >up the `in isolation', `dead boring', etc.
> >allegations also rise. Why does this not
> >happen when people talk about teaching mathematics?
> >
> >We really ought to face the fact that grammar as a
> >school discipline is an approach to Linguistics in no
> >lesser measure than school maths is an
> >approach to Mathematics.
> >
> >By the same token, do we ever doubt that school maths
> >will result in students' better ability to count small change?
> >Why then do we doubt that students' better ability to write
> >will be the result of their being taught grammar?
> >Sophie
>
> Math is under attack for the same reasons as grammar: that it is taught in
> isolation and it is boring, etc.
>
> It's under attack because so many students fail to learn it. Just check
out
> the math scores. They are generally terrible, except among those with an
> aptitude for math.
>
> As for students' ability to count small change, you have only to notice
> that cash registers now do all the figuring for cashiers--yet many
cashiers
> still have trouble counting the change to you.
>
> So it comes about that, as with grammar, there is now an effort to reform
> the teaching of math. The main proposal is that teach math in context and
> in practical situations.
>
> Bill
>
> William J. McCleary
> 3247 Bronson Hill Road
> Livonia, NY 14487
> 716-346-6859
>
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