search  current discussion  categories  teaching 

numerophobia (oy vey)

updated thu 31 oct 96

 

David G Brown on wed 16 oct 96

Joseph Herbert

I have been reading some of the numerophobia mail and skipping most but
Joseph's letter got me going.

Perhaps I am naive; but, after reading the original letter about math
requirements at college, I thought the only question was where to draw the
line.

How was I to know, in my college years, that algebra would help me frame
houses or that english composition would serve me when editing a newspaper.
I have had jobs and careers that were not planned in my college days. Some
of which did not exist then. A good educational foundation has allowed me
choices in life.

What would one say to the college football player who says academic
subjects are not needed for professional sports? A certain level of
kowledge is needed for a "reasonably" functional society. Young adults may
plan their futures very differently than life actually turns out. It is the
responsibility of the society in general and the educators in particular to
set the standards.

I could go on. I will not. Your welcome.

David in Redwood City CA

Carol Craiglow on thu 17 oct 96

David G Brown wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Joseph Herbert
>
> I have been reading some of the numerophobia mail and skipping most but
> Joseph's letter got me going.
>
> Perhaps I am naive; but, after reading the original letter about math
> requirements at college, I thought the only question was where to draw the
> line.
>
> How was I to know, in my college years, that algebra would help me frame
> houses or that english composition would serve me when editing a newspaper.
> I have had jobs and careers that were not planned in my college days. Some
> of which did not exist then. A good educational foundation has allowed me
> choices in life.
>
> What would one say to the college football player who says academic
> subjects are not needed for professional sports? A certain level of
> kowledge is needed for a "reasonably" functional society. Young adults may
> plan their futures very differently than life actually turns out. It is the
> responsibility of the society in general and the educators in particular to
> set the standards.
>
> I could go on. I will not. Your welcome.
>
> David in Redwood City CAHI..Allow me to introduce myself...I've been lurking a
now, but am finally ready to surface. I've learned very much from the
posts on the clayart listserv so let me say thanks. I, like David, have
ignored most of the numerophobia posts...just because. I have worked as
a left brained scientist (geologist/hydrogeologist) for 18 years til just
last month when I quit my job for the corporate world...I just couln't
sit behind a desk any longer!! Anyway, now I'm utilizing the right brain
to pursue a career in clay, bronze, glass, welded metal sculpting (wish
me luck!) I suppose I am a bit ambivalent regarding this thread...yes,
we all probably have different learning styles and it is worthwhile to be
aware of them and to maximize learning via the appropriate learning
style, but I think we have to be careful to not get too hung up on "left"
or "right". Know who you are and go for it, I guess is how I feel. For
many people it can be both, for others it may be a bit more polarized,
and in an academic setting that might be frustrating. But learn from it
and move on.

My 2 cents' worth,

Carol in Grand Junction (beautiful Western, Colorado) USA