[Baldwin]

Let's talk about incentives.

For 18,000 families, the New York City government is piloting a program with approx 2 billion in private cash to offer incentives to rise above poverty. Jesus himself said we'd always have poor people, but for some reason the ptb want us to think otherwise. Anyway, for getting a library card, you get a one time cash payment of $50. For holding down a full time job you get $150 a month. For maintaining 95% school attendance, you get $25 a month. You get various othr awards for other things, but I forget what they are. I jsut saw this on the news.

NY public schools and the TI-84

Every... EVERY New York state 8th grader will be given a texas instruments graphing calculator (TI-84) which they will retain until they graduate. These calculators retail for $125 each. Maybe texas instruments will cut us a break at a calculator @ $100. Yet the taxpaying sheeple vote the budgets onward. I wish peak oil would end this nonsense. When students show work on the Regents exams (NY state standardized tests), instead of putting down numbers, they put down WHAT BUTTONS THEY PRESS. This is why your cashier can't make change when you hand them a $20 for $13.78 worth of groceries.

[emersonbiggins]

You do realize what graphing calculators are for, right? They're not for adding 2 and 2. Any of your higher maths will require the use of them, and once you've plotted a few multi-variable graphs by hand, you'll understand why. I've been using a TI-83 since 9th grade, through calculus, statics and structural engineering classes.

Disclaimer: this is not to say that all students are inclined to take higher mathematics.

[Baldwin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', 'Y')ou do realize what graphing calculators are for, right? They're not for adding 2 and 2. Any of your higher maths will require the use of them, and once you've plotted a few multi-variable graphs, you'll understand why.

[emersonbiggins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Baldwin', 'C')alculators are like drugs....the ability to do the math in your head turns to jelly. Its effects are faster than watching American idol (in regards to dumbing down).

[jimbomonkey]

But, Baldwin you were implying much more than calculators are being introduced too early. Say what you mean. Do you mean certain people should not learn math? Do you mean that the state should not pay for education? Do you mean only certain people should go to college? Who? As you say in your original post, this is "2 billion in private cash." Certain people should not be given charity that people have given of their own free will, then? Just wondering....

[I_Like_Plants]

Several years ago, I was considering completing my degree, and I went to a pre-calc class. Well, all the other students were having trouble graphing functions on their calcs, and I'd have 'em graphed faster on good old pencil and paper.

I have a faithful TI-86 from when I enrolled in that class, all I use it for these days is adding up bank deposits lol.