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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Eggs and Math: Life is Now Cool

It is not uncommon for us to look at the young people, and especially kids growing up today, and quip on how easy they are having it today. We often speak with some nostalgia about how life was tough back in the days and how we walked for five kilometers to school, were canned by teachers, showered with cold water and endured bullying. Or how we only ate one meal while today our kids have access to sausages and eggs in the fridge the whole day. Of course when our parents sit us down, they paint an even tougher pictures, walking for twenty kilometers to encounter some tough colonial discipline masters.

Of course at times we exaggerate. Anyway, to give a picture of how life has evolved over the years and become more easy, I recently came across a demonstration of this fact illustrated through the teaching of maths. Below is a rather hilarious depiction courtesy of a Peter Murimi who sent this to my inbox. Amuse yourselves and let me know if you think these stories from the past are often over-exaggerated.


History of Mathematics in Kenya



Last week I purchased a drink at a supermarket for shs. 55.00. The counter girl took my shs. 100 note. I then pulled shs. 5 from my pocket and gave it to her. She sat there holding the tiny coin, while looking at the screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me a shs. 50 note, but she hailed the supervisor for help. Why do I tell you this?

Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1980s:

Teaching Math In The Early 1980s

A farmer sells a tray of eggs for shs. 100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit?

Teaching Math In The Mid-1980s

A farmer sells a tray of eggs for shs. 100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or shs. 80. What is his profit?

Teaching Math In The Early 1990s

A farmer sells a tray of eggs for shs. 100. His cost of production is shs.
80. Did he make a profit?

Teaching Math In The Mid-1990s

A farmer sells a tray of eggs for shs. 100. His cost of production is shs.
80 and his profit is shs. 20. Your assignment: *underline the number 20.*

Teaching Math In The Early 2000s

A farmer exploits a flock of chickens with a selfish, profit-driven motive.
As a result he makes shs. 20 for every tray of eggs he sells. What do you think of this way of making a living considering increased animal rights advocacy? (NB: There are no wrong answers and if crying for the miserable chickens makes you feel ok, go right ahead).

Teaching Math From 2010

(Not to be attempted by pampered private school brats). Same question as number 5 but if you have special needs or just feel you are a victim of tribal/political incorrectness, social class, historical injustice, gender etc, then don't answer and the correct answer will be provided for you.


Cartoons from Cartoonstock.com

20 comments:

  1. woww...yaar sounds like American way is done in Kenya

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  2. This is hilarious, Charles - but the message is loud and clear!

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  3. Very clever - but a little too near the knuckle!

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  4. Hey y'all thanks for stopping by and leaving your comments. Savira, welcome to this blog

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  5. This one has me smiling. Talk about wittily serving it straight up...

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  6. Nyambura, it is good to know that you are smiling :)

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  7. That has just been served hooot! Just wondering what answer my unborn child will have for this question..

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  8. Hahaha I do not even want to imagine what our kids will be doing. Telling a teacher that a concept isn't going anywhere was unfathomable...

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  9. Eric and Mackel9, your kids will asked to set their own questions and answer it!

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  10. Perfect mix of sarcasm and message. Loved it.

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  11. Humourous. But seriously do you think that perhaps teachers have such a bad press these days and maybe someone should post something in their defence?

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  12. Siddharth - thanks for passing by!

    Woolie - why don't you do that post? :)

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  13. hehe how life becomes easier as people become lazier. as for the previous post on boys versus girls, with two girls you might be the next obama lol

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  14. You got me there Otieno and thanks....I will do one soon. Meantime your award was presented this past weekend over at woolie's yard

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  15. Pitzevans - How I wish! I can imagine myself already relaxing at the white house on the hill!

    Woolie, yes, I saw that award last night. Still figuring a response!! Was that Tuk tuk picture taken in Kisumu?

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  16. *Peeps in* Oh, hello. Just came over to check if there's a new post...have a great day :-)

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  17. Nyambura, I see you are returning the favor!

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  18. That was hillarious....but it is true the more years go by the more things become easy..our kids kids will not not even need to go to school. as in they will be home schooled

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    1. Millicent, I actually have a friend who is currently homeschooling his kids...thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment

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