New-Hoo-Hoo Math

From Wikipedia:

"Lehrer's explanation of the two calculations is entirely correct, but presented in such a way (very rapidly and with many side remarks) as to make it difficult to follow the individually simple steps, thus recreating the bafflement the New Math approach often evoked when apparently simple calculations were presented in a very general manner which, while mathematically correct and arguably trivial for mathematicians, was likely very confusing to absolute beginners and even contemporary adult audiences."



The song was recorded in 1965.  The more things change, the more they stay the same.  Today we have many people up in arms over the Common Core standards.  Perhaps you've seen videos of outraged parents detailing how ridiculous their child's math homework is - often in the same confusing manner Lehrer used, and certainly out of context with the classroom lesson.

Prior to this week I knew practically nothing about the Common Core.  However, I have a handy rule of thumb:  If the Koch Bothers are spending money to sway public opinion about something, chances are that the point of view that they want you to have does not align well with your best self-interest.  It's not much, but as a Liberal Agnostic I've been told that I have no moral compass, so it will have to serve.

The first point I'd like to make is that the Common Core standards do not set classroom curricula.  It does not set lesson plans.  It's just a set of standards adopted by several state governors to make it easier for schools to comply with the No Child Left Behind law (remember that gem?).  So if your child's math homework looks like a mess to you, take it up with her teacher and the school board, and maybe give them a chance to explain things.  If they tell you that their hands are tied because it's all because of Common Core, you can call bullshit on that.  Here's a handy FAQ published by NPR so you don't end up looking like a fool.  

The second thing I really want to point out is this:  Unless you had Miss Wedgebottom for math when she was fresh out of college, and she's still teaching math by the time your progeny are ready for school, then odds are they your kids will not have the same teachers that you did.  Instead, they will have teachers who learned things the old way, and have some ideas of their own on how to pound knowledge into Little Johnny's head  Heck, in thirty years maybe old Mrs. Bumblebritches (nee Wedgebottom) has learned some new ways of doing things.  Regardless, it's probably not the way you were taught. This is just how it is, folks.  I went through it too, when my kids would ask for help.  I could tell them the way I was taught to do it, but that wasn't the way they were being taught at school.  My two were ten years apart and it was the same with both of them.  Time marches on.

I remember (none too fondly) having to do multiplication tables.  I thought it was a supreme waste of time and extremely boring to boot.  As a young scholar, I'd have jumped at the chance to prove that I knew how to get these answers without having to memorize every single one.  How many of you whippersnappers had to do multiplication tables?   

It's always possible that some elementary school teacher is being unrealistic and maybe slightly whacko, or just not doing a good job.  I've seen my share of these.  But before jumping onto the nearest convenient bandwagon, a little research will help your cause (and your child) much more than any amount of misplaced outrage.