Education, Math, and More with Mr. Allison

 The Land of Opportunity. That's what I always considered our country. I was taught that I could be anything I wanted if I was willing to work hard enough. I've made a good living as a blue collar worker--driving a truck and as a chicken farmer. I've also made decent as a teacher in the white collar world.  As a kid, I never really saw myself going to college. I never thought I'd need it, that I could do whatever I wanted without spending the time and money for school. I went for a year right after high school because a lot of people expected me to, but I only lasted a year. I didn't flunk out, but I spent all my money and as a student I was less-than-stellar enough to lose my tuition scholarship.  So I went back to what I knew best, hard work. And I was good at it. After 17 years bouncing around from the Marine Corps to driving a truck to raising chickens and cattle, God made clear to me that He was calling me to teach. I tried to convince Him He was wrong, but fai...

 Math is hard! Even when you're good at it, if you keep learning more math, there comes a point when it's not easy. It takes work and effort and (gasp!!!) thinking. Because it's hard, a lot of kids give up. A lot of parents don't fight too hard when their kids give up because it was hard for them too. Eventually, most students reach a point where taking more math classes is no longer required. Many schools require every student to take an English class every year, but once a student earns four math credits, they don't have to take any more. At that point, why should students take more math? That's the question I want to answer here today. Some do go on and earn five or more math credits. Most of these know their desired career field will require it. Some are pushed by their parents because their parents recognize the benefits of taking more math. A few, very few, have that exceedingly rare quality of enjoying a challenge. Sadly though, most who reach that qualif...

Perhaps the most oft repeated question every math teacher hears. Worse, regardless how we answer it, the kid asking figures we're just blowing smoke and have no idea what we're talking about. Then of course, we also constantly see memes on social media, "Another day and I didn't use [fill in a high school math class here.]" The truth is, math is more than counting and memorizing formulas. The main reason most education systems require students to take as so much math, up to algebra or higher in most cases, is not so everyone can "cipher" as Jethro used to say on the Beverly Hillbillies. It's not so you have a bank of formulas memorized when you're 40 to pull out and use at the grocery store.   The reason you're required to take so much math is because it teaches you logic and reasoning. When you put these two things together you get good problem solvers. An THAT is why you're required to take so much math! So you'll develop problem so...