I'm failing 1st grade math

[clodhopper]

My father was a Tom Lehrer fan (and made me one) who was a great singing comedian from the 60s.

In the 60s a "new math" was introduced which is what I (and most of you probably) learned.

Here was Tom Lehrer's take on the old, new math.

O2

Ps. I can remember doing base 8 math in 5th grade, which ties right into this video!

Goes to show that no matter what you learn, there will always be a "newer" math. I actually learned what Tom presents as new math. It took me a second to understand what he presented as the classic method, which really isn't different, just annotated in reverse order. I cant remember ever seeing how my Pops would have done such a problem, I think he just converted his habits to the methods I learned, but I just don't know for sure. What is being taught as new math now is quite revised, typically graphical, yet still retains the idea that it is more important to understand what you are doing that getting the right answer.