Comments | Eastern NC Now

I was shown a video where 3rd graders were being taught a concept of figuring the area of on a horizontal plane, a rectangle. The was created in Beaufort County. It was sincerely an odd, convoluted formula of completing an extra simple task.

I don't know if it was common core math. I am not an authority on common core math.

I do, however, understand math, and still use the science on a regular basis.

First of all: Why should 3rd graders be even taught calculating quantities of any areas in the 3rd grade?

What 3rd graders, and up until 5th and 6th grade should be taught is the basics of how to work out basic math problems: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions ... all WITHOUT a calculator, a computer.

Maybe in the upper grades of primary school start with word problems, and still NO calculators.

What I am professing is that our youth need to learn how to cypher in their brains, on paper, and understand why their brains are being pounded into nimble tools, and learn the concept and the vast importance of math.

Then start teaching geometry (not the way they taught it years ago, which was far too complicated for most children), but as a useful tool, which is the intention of pure geometry. At this point, let children use a calculator, while teaching very basic trigonometric concepts. Now, teach children how to figure quantities on the horizontal plane, and then the vertical plane.

Then let them learn algebra, a big language of mathematics, and at this point trigonometry will become much simpler to understand. I have another suggestion here. Schools need to acquire surplus surveying equipment, get out on the school grounds, and then teach middle schoolers how some real geometric shapes are measured ... real hands-on is good for complete visualization, and that is immeasurably important to show the WHY of it all, while showing a little bit of the HOW of it.

This is how I would suggest teaching math ... and I know it would work.

At least today adults would be able to read a ruler, make change, or understand the concept of simple fractions; some may even venture into the technical fields.

What a concept: Knowing how to do stuff.

Commented: Sunday, February 12th, 2023 @ 10:00 am By: Stan Deatherage

Could also be they keep reducing the standards. Wonder how low the standards will be lowered this time to make these test scores a passing grade.

Commented: Sunday, February 12th, 2023 @ 8:35 am By: Countrygirl1411

What about that whistleblower Bob? She is from the far left and thought she was "helping trans kids" but found out she was helping facilitate a butchery shop for confused children instead.

Commented: Sunday, February 12th, 2023 @ 8:18 am By: Conservative Voter

And the non patriot Leftists believe that the "Great Insurrection of January 6th" is their worst moment in American History; however, I would possibly offer that the Covid Calamity, and how it was used completely to gain political advantage for the non patriot Left to install unbridled Socialism and complete their process of tearing down our Constitutional Republic, might be possibly far worse.

Commented: Saturday, February 11th, 2023 @ 9:55 pm By: Stan Deatherage

Sad to see news re Curly. I liked curly and enjoyed our visits at the library. May god bless you both.

Commented: Saturday, February 11th, 2023 @ 9:03 pm By: lee tankard

Thank God. Someone else understands this as satire.

Commented: Saturday, February 11th, 2023 @ 7:56 pm By: Stan Deatherage

No one promotes it, really, this Mom would disagree with that. www.foxnews.com

Commented: Saturday, February 11th, 2023 @ 11:36 am By: Countrygirl1411

Hooray for Tennessee. Education should be controlled locally, not by higher levels of big government. States should kick the intrusive feds to the curb and then put most of the decision making at the county level.

Commented: Saturday, February 11th, 2023 @ 7:50 am By: John Steed

Tilllis should be a red flag for anyone he endorses.

Commented: Friday, February 10th, 2023 @ 5:15 pm By: Buzz Cayton

These two articles are about reasoning and the phenomenon of declining IQ scores in our population.

Commented: Friday, February 10th, 2023 @ 12:09 pm By: Charles Hickman

Two points for Stan. It's a "massive issue" ripe for exploitation with a large potential for political gain. Nobody cares one bit about these people. They are merely the latest pawn to attack a perceived enemy. This is what happens when ideology becomes more important than human beings. Right or left, its wrong.

Commented: Friday, February 10th, 2023 @ 11:14 am By: Big Bob