Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
No it isn't. It is mathematical, of course, but not in any way near the way long division is. It is much more Art than Applied Mathematics. And so what? I find the sub-discussion on Music vs. History emblematic of America's problem with education. IMO it shouldn't be either or. A child should have equal helpings of ALL the STEM subjects AND all the Humanities. That is what leads to a well rounded human being who can then specialize in whatever they are innately drawn to. The desperate race to beat Europe in International Competitiveness is leading American educators to cut, cut, cut away anything that does not force concentration on the CORE subjects of readin', writin' n' arithmetic. Truthfully that was all America ever cared about and the more we fall behind the more we double down on this failed path towards excellence. Children should have english and math and science and foreign language and music and art and physical education and this should be funded to the hilt. Anything less is doomed to fail.
I think we should spend that same amount of time on math, maybe more. I just dont think long division should have the priority over other area's in math.
It's one of the four fundamental operations in arithmetic, and it reinforces all of the other three. It should be emphasized until the student has a firm grasp on it, like any other fundamental process in mathematics.
PS - saying long division isn't important because we have calculators is as dumb as saying teaching spelling isn't important because we have spell checkers on computers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by aus10
What could be more important than basic math skills? Are we going to cut out spelling too since we have spell-check?
Good point!
Just look at C-D forum. They don't know the difference between "there", "their", and "they're". Now they can't tell the difference between "your" and "you're".
And they say there's no "dumbing down" going on in America!
Just look at C-D forum. They don't know the difference between "there", "their", and "they're". Now they can't tell the difference between "your" and "you're".
And they say there's no "dumbing down" going on in America!
Haha, I don't think people realize how important music is. And studies show musicians are actually better at Math-the subjects are more closely related than you realize.
No it isn't. It is mathematical, of course, but not in any way near the way long division is. It is much more Art than Applied Mathematics. And so what? I find the sub-discussion on Music vs. History emblematic of America's problem with education. IMO it shouldn't be either or. A child should have equal helpings of ALL the STEM subjects AND all the Humanities. That is what leads to a well rounded human being who can then specialize in whatever they are innately drawn to. The desperate race to beat Europe in International Competitiveness is leading American educators to cut, cut, cut away anything that does not force concentration on the CORE subjects of readin', writin' n' arithmetic. Truthfully that was all America ever cared about and the more we fall behind the more we double down on this failed path towards excellence. Children should have english and math and science and foreign language and music and art and physical education and this should be funded to the hilt. Anything less is doomed to fail.
H
In principle, I agree with you.
Except money is NOT the total answer.
Wash. D.C. has the HIGHEST dollar spent per child in the country and is one of the WORST in achievement.
Parochial schools out perform most public schools at a much lower cost per student.
Home schooled children consistently out perform most public school children.
Yes, we should teach long division, for a few reasons...
Agreed. Long division is one of the most complex math skills a child will learn. The reason its reviewed so many times (grades 3, 4, 5) is that because of its many steps, it takes longer to master.
Another reason students say that they "hate math" or "are not good at math" when they get to the upper grades is that they never mastered long division.
The mind is like a muscle. It has to be exercised or it will atrophy.
Exactly they need to use their brain.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
