In conversation with my mother, she mentioned how a friend’s friend was having trouble home-schooling, because she couldn’t even figure out the directions for the “new math” she was supposed to teach. This brought to mind seventh grade and the famous “Mr. Crumly” incident.
We were learning basic algebra, I do believe. Well, some of us had learned it in sixth grade from Sister Marya, but we were learning a “new” way. Whatever the heck it was, I took the problems home and asked my dad for help. He showed me the way he would figure it out, and I did my homework that way, the Sister Marya way, also, not the way we had been directed.
The next day in class, we were asked for our answers and a demonstration of how we arrived at them. I raised my hand and proceeded to the board, carefully explaining and writing how I arrived at my answer. It was correct, of course. Mr. Crumly apparently was fed up with his teaching career at this point in life, because he threw his chalk-filled eraser at the board and got mad at our class. Sister Marya had gotten to six of us before Mr. Crumly and his “new math” instructions.
I never could figure out why it mattered which way you got there as long as you arrived where you were supposed to be? Thank goodness my kids figured out their “new” instructions without my help.
Math, my nemesis. I recall with dread being called to the board in college by Sr Michelle, it was an 8:00 class, I may or may not have missed a few, absolutely didn’t understand the problem. I watched with some interest as the other two classmates wrote out their answers, with a surprisingly different conclusion than mine. Perhaps if I would have recited a sonnet or made some witty remark about variations on differing conclusions she would have been more sympathetic. Not my finest hour! I did pass though👍
You had me laughing as soon as I read the title. I knew I had been where you were writing about. I hated Math. Mr Crumly apparently did too at times, or being a bachelor, didn’t always appreciate Jr High kids first thing off in the morning. You were brave to get up and explain how you got the answer. I applaud you for that. Those were the days!!!
You know…I was wondering if there is a sonnet regarding any math functions? I think there could be a market there…reciting great works when you are in a tricky situation? Maybe there could be an app for that?
You know…I was wondering if there is a sonnet regarding any math functions? I think there could be a market there…reciting great works when you are in a tricky situation? Maybe there could be an app for that?