Going Places
Greetings!
Have you ever heard — or, better yet, asked — "When am I ever going to use this?" ?
It's one of my favorite questions because it shows me who's not going to be competition.
One of my favorite experiences was with a math student of mine. The poor chap exclaimed, "I'm never going to use this in real life!" In later sessions, we took a few hiatuses into other subjects. We worked on writing, sciences, and social studies. Lo and behold! He made the same exclamation about each subject.
That boy is going places.
Like McDonalds.
Yes, I'm being a bit of a hater.
Jk. I'm always a full-fledged, pure-bred hater.
Jk again. Sarcasm is just my native language.
I'm telling you, my friends: with enough focus and energy, you never have to use anything you learn ever! That's the dream right there! The American Dream! Be free! Don't let learning get you down! Slough off the odious burden!
I would love to linger in sarcasm all day, but I suppose I can share a thought. Consider this analogy that I make with my students:
Football players go to the gym. Often enough, they lifts weights. During a game, have you ever seen a football playing running around with dumbbells? No? Then when are they ever gonna use gym equipment?! Oh wait! It's called practice or training.
Here's the sad-but-true fun fact: Math — and most of the subjects — are healthy exercises for your brain.
Math in particular develops the part of your brain that handles order and logic. Notice a sheer lack of logic these days? Don't be surprised.
Sigh. The snark is abundant.
Pip pip, cheerio!
Have you ever heard — or, better yet, asked — "When am I ever going to use this?" ?
It's one of my favorite questions because it shows me who's not going to be competition.
One of my favorite experiences was with a math student of mine. The poor chap exclaimed, "I'm never going to use this in real life!" In later sessions, we took a few hiatuses into other subjects. We worked on writing, sciences, and social studies. Lo and behold! He made the same exclamation about each subject.
That boy is going places.
Like McDonalds.
Yes, I'm being a bit of a hater.
Jk. I'm always a full-fledged, pure-bred hater.
Jk again. Sarcasm is just my native language.
I'm telling you, my friends: with enough focus and energy, you never have to use anything you learn ever! That's the dream right there! The American Dream! Be free! Don't let learning get you down! Slough off the odious burden!
I would love to linger in sarcasm all day, but I suppose I can share a thought. Consider this analogy that I make with my students:
Football players go to the gym. Often enough, they lifts weights. During a game, have you ever seen a football playing running around with dumbbells? No? Then when are they ever gonna use gym equipment?! Oh wait! It's called practice or training.
Here's the sad-but-true fun fact: Math — and most of the subjects — are healthy exercises for your brain.
Math in particular develops the part of your brain that handles order and logic. Notice a sheer lack of logic these days? Don't be surprised.
Sigh. The snark is abundant.
Pip pip, cheerio!
I never understood that kind of attitude. But then again, math was one of my majors! I suppose I am more apt to fall into the pitfall of too little practical application of all the fun things to think about and learn! I have to laugh at myself when I remember a conversation I had with my dad while I was in high school:
ReplyDeleteDad: Heather, you should become an actuary. You like math; it would be a good career for you.
Me: Oh no, Dad. I'm more interested in theoretical math. You know, things like abstract algebra. Actuarial work (or any applied math) would be too BORING.
Today I am an actuarial analyst.
Go figure.
Dad knew best. Thankfully, though I recognized my need to eat my words, my dad never rubbed my face in that humble pie. It's not his way.
Well, the theme I've observed is that people aren't opposed to math; they're just opposed to learning anything!
DeleteA bunch of people said I should go into actuarial work — but, ya know, it wasn't my cup of tea.