I think I understood early Math...you know, the simple addition and subtraction. When multiplication tables entered the picture, I started to lose interest -probably because memorization wasn't a strong suit either. And then they introduced "New Math". Does anyone else remember that?
It was so innovative (and confusing) that classes were offered to parents so they could help their kids with their homework. I remember, sitting with my Dad, as he struggled to help me with homework, crying, (me, not Dad) because I just didn't get it. No one else must have gotten it either because it was short-lived. I've always been thankful for that. Taking New Math out of the curriculum probably added years to my Dad's life and salvaged our relationship at the same time.
But then...enter Algebra in high school... I struggled with that, too. My teacher agreed to tutor me after school (which meant I had to quit the drill team...don't be too sad. I was only on it for three weeks and my Math teacher did both me AND the drill team a favor...) As frustrating as it was for me, it had to be really hard for a teacher who had that Math gene, to deal with someone who soo didn't. I managed to pass that year and was done with Math!
Nope - not true! I was quick to find out that Math is a life-long thing.....not just something I would struggle with in the classroom. Lots of irony, then, that my first job in the "real world" was working as a bank teller at our local bank! More irony? That bank is out of business now!
I have found that you need Math every day-whether it's adding, measuring, weighing, balancing...a fact of life...but I will go out of my way to avoid its use. And I'm thinking there MUST be many of us lacking the Math gene. Why else would they have invented calculators?
Dear Marysue,
ReplyDeleteI didn't have the math gene either, but did like algebra because it was so mythical. I also thought it was because it had something to do with the alphabet. Now, I believe in prayers, because my dad was someone could do sums in his head. He always hated to see you use your fingers or paper to figure up people's tabs at the bar. God answered my prayers when he had someone invented the calculator. Again, I thanked him when I had to do statistical math and found the scientific calculator.