<snip>
> But the point of this posting is the following quote from the story,
> describing how each side computes these things.
>
> "Now, the math. (Remember, under new math how we get the answer is
> more important than whether the answer is correct.)"
<snip>
After ejaculating a knee jerk "Jackass!" I would articulate a response
something like:
The reason for focusing on method is partly to ensure that the answer
is, in fact, right,
partly to ensure that you could reproduce another right answer to
similar
problems and partly so that you could then solve more complicated
problems by adapting your method.
Those who can, do. Those who can and can also help others learn to,
teach.
Those who can do neither become education writers for newspapers. Those
who care only about "answers" listen to Ollie North.
That's a little harsh. Call the writer to meet for lunch sometime and
educate them.
Geoff Hagopian
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