Ah, new math.

So simple that only a child could do it!

Whose "bright" idea was it to go "changing" elementary math so that when my kids need help on their homework, I have no idea what the devil the teacher has been teaching them. In the end, I show them how to "really do it" and just shake my head at all this new math nonsense. I guess that makes me old. :(

Let me guess, you walked up hill both ways to school, in the snow, barefoot??:rolleyes: :p

As a current math major (well, math and philosophy double major), I think the new math is great. Then again, I'm double majoring in math and philosophy, so you should really question my judgement.

I have to admit that I do the same thing. Show them how to do it. The new thing around here is to explain why the process works. (Their standardized tests in math now actually have essay questions, so they can explain how they came to their conclusions.) I don't really care if they know why it works. Just make sure they can do it. If they want to be math majors, then they can learn the theory in college. But in middle school, I would much rather see them just do the same type of problem 20 times to make sure that they can actually get the correct answer.

New math + philosophy = the new Descartes?

Yeah sure, why not. But minus the whole French thing.