[SOC] Math

[Ian C. Purdie]

Spencer Sholly wrote:
> How many pintz in a quartz?

Class!

Watching this discussion and being encouraged the list is becoming alive 
again I thought I might bore to death some of the newcomers. Old hand 
from mumble, mumble years ago might recollect the story.

Around about 8 - 10 years ago we were minding, overnight, two of the 
grand-sons also coincidently then around 8 - 10 years old.

After dinner, Grand-dad "cordially" invited the eldest to complete his 
homework assignment before briefly watching television. Of course I 
scanned his assignment and his answers. I made no comment of his 
assignment answers beyond grammar and particularly his spelling. I 
underlined certain words and invited him to use my very thick Macquarie 
Dictionary [150mm or 6"] to check his spelling and re-write his assignment.

Next afternoon he "fumed" home to his mother, having been singled out in 
class as a prime example of the dangers of allowing parents but, 
grand-parents in particular, to assist with your homework. The kid was 
humiliated.

Every spelling correction I had drawn to his attention had a red line 
through it with his original spelling inserted above. At the bottom of 
the page was:

"Jye, don't allow your Grand-Dad to help with your homework"

Unfortunately for that dumb young teacher, the school principal was a 
close personal friend. Needless to say I wandered across the street, 
[literally], to the school for morning tea and handed him the assignment.

I was later told she was informed, at the time. that was a dirt cheap 
way out. Had I been really "peed off" I could have rang another friend, 
the "Minister for Education". Even worse, I could have offered another 
friend, an editor with Australia's highest circulating daily newspaper, 
a 500 - 1,000 word article.

I believe she was utterly oblivious [or impervious] to those alternative 
offerings. I don't think she learned a damn thing from it.


Thanks! :) 72/73's

Ian C. Purdie
Budgewoi N.S.W. Australia - Co-ords -S33° 13' 54.70", +E151° 33' 4.75"
VK2TIP "I'll give ya the TIP mate" QRP-L #1978. SOC #171 FP#91
http://www.electronics-tutorials.com/