Words of Wisdom

Youth is wasted on the young.

Monday 8 June 2009

The Evolution of Maths Teaching

Maths Question 1970

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.00. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit?

Maths Question 1980

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.00. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80.00. What is his profit?

Maths Question 1990

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.00. His cost of production is $80.00. Did he make a profit?

Maths Question 2000

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.00. His cost of production is $80.00 and his profit is $20.00. Your assignment: underline the number 20.

Maths Question 2009

A logger cuts down a beautiful tree because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our planet. He does this so that he can make $20.00. Do you think this is any way to make a living? Topic for class discussion after answering the question: How did the birds and animals feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers).
************************************************************************************



*Thanks Mum for sending me that one!!

10 comments:

Jill said...

I graduated in '86, so I just made it! Very funny, btw.

Elisa said...

quite amusing....my favorite line is "There are no wrong answers....!"
Good thing becuase you know some little darling might be scarred for life if you correct him/her when they say that 2 + 2 = 5.

Do we wonder why the younger generation feels entitled to immediate and enduring success on the first try?

Stacy said...

OMG...could that be anymore true??? LOL!

natalie said...

Haha. And to think this is for the ADVANCED class...

Scary, isn't it??

A Free Man said...

There is a spelling/grammatical error in this post. Damn maths teachers can't spell...

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Laura said...

Totally, so I guess I can put my calculator away now and take a break from all those difficult math sentences. Yes, they're call math sentences now, right? (that's what my 5 year old told me)

Agnes said...

Brilliant! Shall be sending it on to a few of my teacher friends.

Arizaphale said...

Jill: So you just can't work out fractions.

Elisa: heaven forbid that there should be ANY scarring. At teacher's college they teach us how to leave NO MARKS !!!!! :-D

Stacy and Nat: Yes, I am currently making a maths workbook which mainly involves filling in the missing words. From a paragraph printed above.

AFM: Fixed. I bow to you The Spelling/Grammar Nazi.

Florida Girl: Your 5 year old is more well informed than my year 11s.

Agnes: Only we (teachers) can know the true horror behind the humour :-)

Jessie said...

THAT, my dear, is one of the many reasons I am homeschooling my children!

Maggie said...

Ha ha ha! That is hilarious!