Parents: Elementary Schools and Calculators tell me what you think.

[NeoStarO1]

HI Gang!

I was just going through my kid's school shopping list for supplies and it came to quite a suprise that my daughters class a basic calculator is required.

I for one am totally against kids using calculators in school. I have been in college for quite some time now and I don't use a calculator. I have done 2 terms of algebra without a calculator and have passed and passed knowing what the heck I am doing. If I can do first two terms of algebra without a calculator my dauther darn well should be able to do 4th grade math without a calculator.

I want to get a general consencous from the gang here on how you feel about calucators in the elementary school, jr. high.

I am going to fight this requirement in her school. I don't think she needs it and too many kids depend on calculators to know what 9 x 7 is now a days. I don't want that happening to my kids.

I personally think the use of calculators make kids "dumber" expecially at this young of an age.

LMK What all you parents think.

[tmx468]

I was taught without a calculator, and while not the best at maths, I worked out how to do things my way... (10x7, minus 7)...

Against it!!

[JeremyPC]

Iam all for it as long as the teacher requires work, seems pointless to make a child relearn addition and multiplying just because he doesnt have a 10 dollar calculator. Even with calculator you still learn plenty, just make child show how he did the problem.

[Telexen]

My elementary school always gave us simple calculators...so they were all the same ones.

I've always been a math whiz though, and never used it.

Some people just aren't good at math though.

[Mr. Goodbytes]

That's all fine and good in highschool, but in elementary school? Their problems are not all that in-depth. One operation mostly. Now, I'm not a parent, but in school, math was my easiest subject. I remember in calculus, we were encouraged to not use calculators until we could do the problem without them. To enforce that, on random exams, calculators would not be allowed. So if we wanted to pass, we'd learn. Children shouldn't need a calculator until 6th or 7th grade, depending on how high a level of math they're at.

[Knothead]

I think calculators are great! As a kid, we didn't have them. My kids, OTH, had them, and I could NOT believe the math they were doing!

Instead of wasting their time figuring 27 into 246, (which a calculator can do easily enough) they were into MAJOR brain-busting math, and they really had to work CONCEPTS... as opposed to memorizing number tables.

I say, give 'em the right tool for the job, then give 'em BIG, JUICY stuff to work on.

Better they be baffled than bored, I think.

I disagree Knothead. Perhaps this is why when I'm feeling kinda grouchy for fun I will change my mind and give the kid at the register a different amount of money than they keyed in as being recieved, to see if they can figure out the change.. Most of them can't

All kids should know basic math!

[NeoStarO1]

Hmmm interesting so far. We were never allowed to use calculators at all when I was a kid, I guess with my upbringing is why im so against it. I still think they need to learn 27 into 246 the long way.

If they use calculators all the way through when it comes time and they are too dependant on it they will really flounder.

For example: Say you are taking a test one day, calculators are acceptable. Whoops your battery dies and you can not get another calculator. What do you do now? they will sit their trying to figure out how to do it. IF they are exposed to manual math they will be able to do it with or without a calculator and they also will be prepared in the un-eventual hapstance of a calculator going bad.

[Telexen]

Of course they need to learn how to take 27 into 246 the long way...but you can't expect them to sit there and work it out every time.

I loved long division though...still do...especially with polynomials

[Knothead]

Originally posted by surreal
Perhaps this is why when I'm feeling kinda grouchy for fun I will change my mind and give the kid at the register a different amount of money than they keyed in as being recieved, to see if they can figure out the change.. Most of them can't

Well, okay, but... two points:

a) What's to keep the kid from whipping out a calculator and figuring it out that way?

b) Are we pre-supposing that if kids use calculators, they WON'T learn basic math? My kids had calculators up the wazoo, and they can do simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

My point is, calculators are great for speeding up the process, so you can get to the really good stuff.