Teaching Math through the Decades
This is not agrarian, nor is it about our family, or our church, or any such; it's just something I find humorous, possibly because it seems so true. It is old, and probably most of you have seen it; my sister sent it to me quite a few years ago, and I kept a copy of it for a long time, for some reason, but since I've misplaced it, I've referred to it often, and wished I still had a copy of it. I (finally!) thought to look for it online, and found it easily, with a change or two from the one she sent me. Anyway, here it is:
Teaching Math in 1950:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit?
Teaching Math in 1960:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?
Teaching Math in 1970:
A logger exchanges a set "L" of lumber for a set "M" of money. The cardinality of set "M" is 100. Each element is worth one dollar. Make 100 dots representing the elements of the set "M." The set "C", the cost of production contains 20 fewer points than set "M." Represent the set "C" as a subset of set "M" and answer the following question: What is the cardinality of the set "P" of profits? [I'm dating myself, but this one sounds waaaaay too familiar!]
Teaching Math in 1980:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.
Teaching Math in 1990:
By cutting down beautiful forest trees, the logger makes $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the forest birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down the trees? There are no wrong answers.
Teaching Math in 2000:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $120. How does Arthur Andersen determine that his profit margin is $60? [My sister sent me this before the Enron trouble, so the one she sent says, "How does Jesse Jackson get involved?" instead of the Arthur Andersen question. It also did not include the 2010 math, as stated below.]
Teaching Math in 2010:
El hachero vende un camion carga por $100. La cuesta de production es.............
Mary Susan
Teaching Math in 1950:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit?
Teaching Math in 1960:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?
Teaching Math in 1970:
A logger exchanges a set "L" of lumber for a set "M" of money. The cardinality of set "M" is 100. Each element is worth one dollar. Make 100 dots representing the elements of the set "M." The set "C", the cost of production contains 20 fewer points than set "M." Represent the set "C" as a subset of set "M" and answer the following question: What is the cardinality of the set "P" of profits? [I'm dating myself, but this one sounds waaaaay too familiar!]
Teaching Math in 1980:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.
Teaching Math in 1990:
By cutting down beautiful forest trees, the logger makes $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the forest birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down the trees? There are no wrong answers.
Teaching Math in 2000:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $120. How does Arthur Andersen determine that his profit margin is $60? [My sister sent me this before the Enron trouble, so the one she sent says, "How does Jesse Jackson get involved?" instead of the Arthur Andersen question. It also did not include the 2010 math, as stated below.]
Teaching Math in 2010:
El hachero vende un camion carga por $100. La cuesta de production es.............
Mary Susan
posted by The Bradshaws at 5:45 PM
3 Comments:
Hi! What a great reminder of the 70's! This is so funny but sad at the same time because it is SO true!
Blessings,
Cheri
Yikes! Funny, but too true :-)
It is true that as time goes by, understanding Math seems to get harder and harder. This involves the way of disseminating information to a group of people. It is possible that the way you were taught deviated from the standard of teaching.
Dolly Paolucci
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