Come on guys! Are you kidding me???!
By laydee
@laydee (12798)
Philippines
October 1, 2011 7:24pm CST
It's the final week of the semester for the University that I am connected with. Now is the busiest time in an educator's life, when he/she needs to compute grades, assess student's performance and such.
One particular day, we were all buzzling around in the faculty lounge, I was checking some papers when I recalled a particular conversation (or perhaps debate) with a student a few weeks back:
"Ma'am, why did the number become a negative (-)?"
I said, "Huh? because you transposed it and it crossed the equal (=) sign."
"So what ma'am?"
I said, "Errr.. That's an algebra rule, it means you have crossed the boundary (which is zero)."
"Hmmm... I still don't get it."
Don't get me wrong, I just couldn't believe that it was happening. I was not teaching Algebra, I was teaching Financial Management Major (you need to go through several Maths as pre-requisites).
When I told my co-teachers about it, I was amazed by the reaction of one teacher, he said:
"That's even better as compared to what I went through last week."
Apparently, he also had a debate with a student claiming that her answer was right. In a boardwork activity, the students were asked to solve a particular Calculus problem and her final answer was 0/0 = 1.
She explained that it was 1 because any number divided by itself is equal to 1!!!!!
That was hilarious. But it made me worry. What is happening to our students??? We're in a University for crying out loud!
Whew!
1 person likes this
6 responses
@varier (5685)
• Indonesia
2 Oct 11
I realize that some of Economic/Financial Management students are having lack skills of Math. Well, at least that happened on several of my friend who study Economy.. 
I guess the best way to do is just simply bring a Math teacher to them and let them discuss about that matter.. 
I guess the best way to do is just simply bring a Math teacher to them and let them discuss about that matter.. 1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
2 Oct 11
The point of the matter is that they've wasted several years studying math if it's ineffective in the first place. I'm just glad that they know how to add, subtract, multiply and divide - that is, with the help of a calculator. I just don't know anymore who's to blame, perhaps the math teacher was as frustrated as me, but they should have gotten in this level in the first place!
@varier (5685)
• Indonesia
2 Oct 11
Ah, okay, I got your point. Since it was only basic Algebra that they were questioning.. That sounds horrible enough 
But it can't be help.. For most people, math is sucks and they hate this subject. 
I realize, if you already hate a subject, you can't study that subject well
But it can't be help.. For most people, math is sucks and they hate this subject. I realize, if you already hate a subject, you can't study that subject well 
@lctravenisk (483)
• Brazil
2 Oct 11
OMG! I can't believe it! Like we say here: We need to laugh to don't cry!
I am very worried because they are the future of our world. How will it be, if they don't understand simple concepts? It would be funny, if it wasn't sad.
And as you said, they are college students, imagine the other part of country, which sometimes study just for 6, 5 years?
Unfortunately, this kind of problems are commom in a lot of countries. And I think who is the guilt for it? And more important, what can we do to solve it?
Happy mylotting and good luck to us. We will need.
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
2 Oct 11
True enough! I know that people do undermine the importance of education in most of the countries, but if one student can't even remember these 'simple' concepts (the basics), whew how could they be able to handle economic problems and financial crisis?
I'm not asking to be given students with exceptional abilities. I would just want them to be prepared enough to be ready to know more, instead of going back to the basics because their primary and secondary schools weren't able to focus on these - which is highly a waste of money in the first place if they have products such as these.
@lctravenisk (483)
• Brazil
2 Oct 11
Yeah, for sure. It is impossible to learn new concepts if the basic is not known. It is the reason why we have so many horrible professionals nowadays. the people can finish the college, but don't really understand what they are doing. Just do, because that is what the teacher told me. It is not to learn!
A waste of money, time and patience from everyone who got involved in the process. I understand you, because we have the same problems here: students that need explanation about basic issues. It is disappointing.
And these kind of students can't blame nobody than themselves for this. I know a lot of people who learns when they really want it. Happy mylotting.
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
2 Oct 11
Hello laydee, Math is something hard to study, people may remember the basics, but if it applies with any kind of economic and financial subjects, things get rough. I was never good with my economics and accounting subjects because there are some that deals with MATH. I am no longer surprise since our education isn't that much quality anymore among the locals
1 person likes this
@rmendoza123 (637)
• Philippines
2 Oct 11
Math is a very difficult subject matter in fact few students comprehend with this.
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
2 Oct 11
I know that most people find it difficult. But I'm not referring to those difficult formulas for calculus and stuff, I'm talking about basic math - the ones that you should have learned and mustered when you were in primary and secondary schools. The ones that is highly expected of you to have known prior to graduating.
@mdog56 (23)
• United States
2 Oct 11
Hmm. Well those stories are certainly amusing. All I can say to defend these University students is to say that maybe this high level of stress is affecting them as well! I know for sure that when i don't get as much sleep due to studying the first silly mistakes come in my math classes. However, this shouldn't excuse all ridiculous mistakes. Either way pretty shoking.
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
2 Oct 11
We've also gotten stressed about our education but that's no excuse to be failing your basics. I mean, if students' reasons for failing is because of stress, what's our excuse of not earning much? because of stress as well?
I think there's a serious problem with the educational system of the country if students are making basic mistakes. It shouldn't mean that since they could afford to pay the tuition fees, they should pass.
It's a great threat to our future because these are the people who's going to run the country soon. What would ever happen to them if they are the ones facing economic problems and financial crisis? Would it be just an excuse that they can't focus because they're stressed?
It just made me think that our primary and secondary schools are rendered ineffective and going to these schools are just a pure waste of time and money.
I certainly agree that these mistakes are ridiculous.
Thank you for sharing!
