Sixth Grade Math Skeptic

From the Mama's Losin' It blog, my chosen assignment is to describe a hard time that I gave a teacher... and what would I say to her today?

As a preface, as of 8th grade, my math brain began functioning quite well, thank you.

It was the bicentinial year, of 1976. I was in sixth grade. Math had been important in the new world for roughly 200 years. But, I didn't know that. How could I? My teacher is learnin' us all about simple fractions. Great! Another stupid new thing in math, I thought. Isn't addition, subtraction, division and multiplication enough? I honestly don't remember the exact words said, but I remember the progression of the dialog and emotions exchanged. Here's my version of the brief but exciting incident.

Mrs. Jones: blah, blah, blah... fractions.

Me: Mrs. Jones, why do we need to know this?

Mrs. Jones: Because it will be of use to you in the future.

Me: But isn't adding and subracting and stuff like that enough?

Mrs. Jones: You will see that you will use fractions alot.

Me: I don't think so.

Mrs. Jones: You will.

Me: But fractions are stupid. I don't see why we need to learn this stuff. I'll never use it.

Mrs. Jones: Mr. Snyder, I suggest you just sit quietly and listen to me. Blah, blah, blah... fractions.

Me: I'm NOT going to need to use this stuff. It's stupid and I'm not listening!

Mrs. Jones: Mr. Snyder, would you please follow me into the hall?

A Short Time Later

Mrs. Jones: Whack! Whack! Whack! Now take your seat, Mr. Snyder. Just because you don't understand something, doesn't mean it's stupid.

Me: Yes, Ma'am.

The moral of the story is exactly what Mrs. Jones said. Simply because you do not understand something, doesn't make it stupid, or undeserving of respect, or unimportant. I didn't necessarily grasp the lesson fully that day, but it was a seed planted (yeah, planted by a nice little plank of wood... across my buttocks).

If I could speak with Mrs. Jones today, I'd apologize for being a smart-assed 13 year old, and thank her for "explaining" to me the importance of understanding something before making quick and often negative judgements. I'd tell her that, possibly, thanks to her, I went on to ace most math classes following hers. And I now realize that her lesson, applies to everything that occurs in my life. You da bomb, Mrs. J.