TOW #19- The Wrong Way to Teach Math

Andrew Hacker is an American political scientist and public intellectual. He has written various books on better education, improving mathematical intellect, and philosophy. He is a frequent contributor to the New York Review of Books, in which he writes several articles question whether mathematics is necessary. He says “Making mathematics mandatory prevents us from discovering and developing young talent.” In his recent article, ‘The Wrong Way to Teach Math’, he criticizes the teaching of math in school through continuous drill. He makes several strong arguments and I am inclined to agree. Mathematics in school is not being taught well, and we need a way to transition to a method that will stick with students long-term.

One of Hacker’s key points is that many adults today are unable to do simple math when they must calculate things like the coverage of a 26x30 inch carpet, or the price of five apples with a cost of $2.35 without having to get help. Though it seems a bit farfetched, I have been on plenty of trips to the store with adults, and the frequency in which I find that I need to assist them in simple calculations or formulas is astounding. Though it can be argued that, currently, our generation is much more educated than the last, I expect to give it a few years before I forget the formula to find the circumference of a circle. We do not have enough day-to-day experience with mathematics in order to properly memorize the methods. Therefore, what should be focused on is making it stick the first, second, or third time you learn it opposed to drilling it into students and making them apply it to specific numeric occasions.

Hacker offers a reference to something that they did in his class: making it applicable to real life situations. He makes it something that we may see on a day to day basis. Not “Jimmy buys 30 watermelons…” but instead focusing on visualizing data that they may come across. He asks them to connect two charts and put together an idea on how they could relate, while asking why questions. This develops an interest in the topic that the students can more likely apply to their day-to-day world. Personally, I find that these are the type of problems that I can better associate on a day to day basis. Things that I can casually apply and think of without even knowing it, and continue applying later on.

Overall, Hacker is right. The current mathematical system just isn’t working based off of the evidence that we’ve seen in the current generation of adults. The best thing to do is find a proper alteration. Instead of looking at how much math is being applied, we should instead look at how it is being applied. 

TOW #18- Obama Political Cartoon

The image above is featured on the cartoons page of US News under their Cartoon Section. Above, we can see a comic featuring a caricature of Obama speaking of the responsibility that his job entails, and then proceeding to make an appearance on comedy television shows. Using Barack Obama's quote, Tom Stiglich, a cartoonist who graduated from the Art Institute of Philadelphia, provides the argument that Barack Obama contradicts his original message by appearing on comedy shows. However, this statement is invalid, as it is a natural part of a political agenda to try and put on a positive image to its people.

Examining each of the shows that he attends as listed in the second panel, two of the three are actually related to his political career. On the Daily Show, he has an interview reflecting on his past terms. The Tonight Show is a skit making fun of Donald Trump, allowing Obama to make a joke of him in order to push him as far away from the White House as possible. The Jimmy Kimmel show, featuring Obama in a way in which he least relates to his career, allows him to relate to others featured on the show. Though it can be argued that it makes him appear less formal, it also makes him appear more likable through his witty humor and casual manner. Though someone may not approve of his political choices, they may find satisfaction with who he is as a person through his appearance on these shows.

Obama was able to serve two full terms. Despite whether or not you believe that they were well spent, people can argue that he is the most 'real' president to date. His appearances on these shows play out as honesty and allows him to appear genuine to the audience, which is, conveniently, his voters. Thus, his statement regarding the relationship between presidency and reality shows still hold true despite what this author implies. Presidency is not a reality show, but that does not mean that any humor must be derived of it entirely.

TOW #17- Suicide Squad Trailer 1

Suicide Squad was a popular comic in the DC universe consisting of the 'worst of the worst' villains serving the government as makeshift superheroes, forced to work under the simple encouragement of bombs in their heads. The team consists of Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Enchantress, Killer Croc, and many more infamous villains. Just mentioning that these guys are coming to the big screen got plenty of fans up and ready to run to the movie theater. However, there was much more than that drawing in the audience.

For those unfamiliar with the DC universe, the sense of familiarity comes with the use of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". The song cuts in and out between dialogues throughout the commercial. It starts with the beginning of the song, slow in order to properly introduce the content of the film. However, as the action packed scenes begin to fill in, the fast-paced and exciting interlude of the song accompanies it. Each aspect of the music is accompanied it by the movie's audio as well, bullets matching fast-paced drum beats. As audiences who are familiar with a song know that this is definitely the part to jump in singing with no regret, encouraging a thrill along with the blast of machine guns, bombs, and other weaponry. Concluding with the song's trademark "Nothing really matters to me" after Harley Quinn breaks a window to steal a purse, it reveals the true intent of the villains: They really just don't care about this. This carefree persona sheds light to a rather violent film, and makes people question what will really happen to the characters or how they'll react.

The trailer also involves humorous dialogue interludes. In contrast to the original trailer, which was much more serious, this shows more of the humor that may be involved with the film. The dialogue includes nonchalant descriptions of each villain's abilities such as "He's a crocodile and eats people... and she's just crazy..." or Will Smith as Deadshot asking if his recruitment to the Suicide Squad was simple "cheer leading tryouts." This appeals more to the younger audience, who may be looking for something light-hearted and rigorous that appeals to their rebellious, carefree sides.

Overall, I believe that the trailer was a rather impressive. Comparing both of the trailers, one introduced a few months back, and this one about a month ago, it proves that DC is being incredibly strategic with their advertising strategies. The first was dramatic, theatrical, and suspenseful. This one was exciting, full of thrill, and colorful. This allows them to appeal to their various audiences. Two different perspectives of superhero (Excuse me, villain) movies. This ability to expand among audiences makes me believe that, while their are conflicts between how it will really be pulled off in theaters, Suicide Squad will have no problem selling tickets, even to an audience with little familiarity with the DC universe.