[email protected]

In a message dated 9/2/2002 3:07:25 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:


>
> In my case, third grade was also my downfall. What is it about third grade
> teachers??? At that time, my parents tried very hard to make me go along
> with the system; I'm not sure they ever knew the teacher had pulled my desk
> up against hers, so she could hit my hand with her ruler if I looked out
> the
> window. Anyone want to guess why I suck at math?
>
>

Julian went into the third grade believing he was smart, especially at math.
He came out believing he was stupid and sucked at math...mostly because even
though he excelled at memorizing scripts for plays, etc...he couldn't get the
f**&^%ing times tables. And guess whose mother had the EXACT experience. He
got humiliated in class for it, etc.

It took a stupid online IQ test for Julian to understand that he was very
smart. I guess he needed someone or something who didn't love him to tell him
in a way he could believe. Periodically we still get stories we didn't know
about school, and I'm so sad. He never told us until recently that they
dissected a work in the second grade. This is my early ethical vegetarian son
who wouldn't eat Skittles.

Anyway...anyone here ever read Math: Facing an American Phobia, by Marilyn
Burns? Incredible book about the way math is taught.

Kathryn, who is sad and teary writing this stuff


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