Thursday, January 15, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
The Truth about Fuzzy Math: A Failed Experiment
A new math fad has infiltrated our public and private education systems with a constructivist curriculum. It mostly targets students from grades 3 through 5 and in some cases it does not require individual text books. This new approach to teaching math is based on the notion that children understand and learn only those concepts that they "construct" or discover on their own. The teacher is discouraged from providing information or imparting knowledge, and is instead encouraged to act as a “facilitator” of learning.
It goes by many names and conventions:
- Fuzzy Math
- New-New Math
- Whole Math
- Social Math
- Everyday Math
- Reformed Math
Elementary students today are not expected to master basic math or know their multiplication tables. Instead of promoting individual problem-solving skills, fuzzy math claims to provide a "deep conceptual understanding" of math. However, it emphasizes "self-confidence" over proficiency and it fails to prepare students for college and higher education.
An example of Fuzzy Math would be if the group agrees that 2+2=5, then that's the right answer; in that case, 2+2 does not equal 4.
Other example “math” problems in a fifth-grade “Everyday Math” textbook:
A. If math were a color, it would be –, because –.
B. If it were a food, it would be –, because –.
C. If it were weather, it would be –, because –.
The Negative outcomes:
- Inability to work alone
- Lack of math fluency
- Lack of basic math skills
- Dependence on Calculators
NCTM Principles and Standards has become the "bible" for a progressive education theory known as "constructivism".
M.J. McDermott exposing the truth about "Fuzzy Math" video:
Sources:
Fuzzy math: A nationwide epidemic - by Michelle Malkin
How Not to Teach Math (City Journal) - by Matthew Clavel (New York City teacher)
2+2=5: Fuzzy Math Invades Wisconsin Schools) - by Leah Vukmir
Parents concerned with latest math curriculum - by Laura Diamond (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Friday, January 9, 2009
CNN forced to remove staged video without explanation or retraction.
Norwegian doctor Mads Gilbert, a radical Marxist who openly supports Hamas and the 9/11 hijackers, is seen once again in this CNN video about the death of a “freelance cameraman’s” brother in Gaza — and the footage in the hospital room was very likely staged for propaganda effect.
Here’s another version of the suspect footage at the UK’s Channel 4. (Whose coverage is horrifically biased against Israel.)
Here’s another version of the suspect footage at the UK’s Channel 4. (Whose coverage is horrifically biased against Israel.)
A 66 pound load feels like the weight of the world on the shoulders of an IDF Warrior.
Raw Video: An IDF unit fight their way thru North Gaza coming up against enemy fire and discovering Hamas weapons, uniforms and bombs along the way.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Truth and Reality: Two Distinct Concepts
Truth and Reality are intimately related, but distinct concepts.
Truth is conformity with fact or reality.
For one entity (truth) to conform to another entity (reality), the entities must be, in some measure, distinct from one another.
Reality is the "bedrock" -- it exists whether anyone makes claims about it.
Said another way, reality is that which exists independently of ideas concerning it.
So for example, God existed before humans; sub-atomic particles were a component of reality long before humans knew they existed. These are examples of the presence of objective reality in the absence of truth claims.
Truth exists in the context of a claim about reality. Claims can be true or false as measured against reality. Once someone claimed that sub-atomic particles exist, that claim could be evaluated as true or false, and that claim does not alter actual reality.
Jesus claimed to be "the way, the truth and the life." His claim can be evaluated as true or false via general and special revelation. (To be clear, I believe the evidence clearly suggests His claims are true, and all will one day know whether our beliefs aligned with reality, and subsequently were true -- and therefore represented Truth -- or whether they were false)
So (for clarity) I would not make the claim "I believe in tithing"; I struggle with the many potential meanings of that statement. I might make the claim "The Bible calls us to tithe" -- I can get my head around the truthfulness of that statement. While whether I tithe is related to whether I actually *believe* the claim is true, it also seems to be realted to other factors. I agree that we would be justified in quesioning the veracity of a person's claim to believe they are called to tithe, when they do ot tithe.
So when Jesus said he was born to testify to truth, he came to affirm that we can "really believe" that what God has declared is "really real". He lived a life affirming the reality of this Universe as God created it. And (as an aside) as the author of this universe, God gave us the rules of logic, which allow us to have this discussion!
Truth does not depends on one's belief, in fact just the opposite: beliefs can only be declared to be true if and only if they conform to reality.
So to summarize:
Reality exists independent of any claims against it. Truth exists in the context of claims against reality. Beliefs (which are claims) do not influence Truth; beliefs can be labeled as true or false.
By "testifying to the truth", Jesus affirmed the reality of God's nature as evidenced through general and special revelation.
Other Sources:
Confusing "Truth" & "Reality"
Truth is conformity with fact or reality.
For one entity (truth) to conform to another entity (reality), the entities must be, in some measure, distinct from one another.
Reality is the "bedrock" -- it exists whether anyone makes claims about it.
Said another way, reality is that which exists independently of ideas concerning it.
So for example, God existed before humans; sub-atomic particles were a component of reality long before humans knew they existed. These are examples of the presence of objective reality in the absence of truth claims.
Truth exists in the context of a claim about reality. Claims can be true or false as measured against reality. Once someone claimed that sub-atomic particles exist, that claim could be evaluated as true or false, and that claim does not alter actual reality.
Jesus claimed to be "the way, the truth and the life." His claim can be evaluated as true or false via general and special revelation. (To be clear, I believe the evidence clearly suggests His claims are true, and all will one day know whether our beliefs aligned with reality, and subsequently were true -- and therefore represented Truth -- or whether they were false)
So (for clarity) I would not make the claim "I believe in tithing"; I struggle with the many potential meanings of that statement. I might make the claim "The Bible calls us to tithe" -- I can get my head around the truthfulness of that statement. While whether I tithe is related to whether I actually *believe* the claim is true, it also seems to be realted to other factors. I agree that we would be justified in quesioning the veracity of a person's claim to believe they are called to tithe, when they do ot tithe.
So when Jesus said he was born to testify to truth, he came to affirm that we can "really believe" that what God has declared is "really real". He lived a life affirming the reality of this Universe as God created it. And (as an aside) as the author of this universe, God gave us the rules of logic, which allow us to have this discussion!
Truth does not depends on one's belief, in fact just the opposite: beliefs can only be declared to be true if and only if they conform to reality.
So to summarize:
Reality exists independent of any claims against it. Truth exists in the context of claims against reality. Beliefs (which are claims) do not influence Truth; beliefs can be labeled as true or false.
By "testifying to the truth", Jesus affirmed the reality of God's nature as evidenced through general and special revelation.
Other Sources:
Confusing "Truth" & "Reality"
Monday, January 5, 2009
Pro-Hamas Demonstration in Downtown Fort Lauderdale, FL
As a resident of South Florida, I would think this type of demonstration is done in other parts of the world, but not from within our own "back yards".
Checkout this video and judge for yourself if we need to be concerned with the clash of worldviews, especially from within our own communities...
Here's the Sun-Sentinel's mediocre coverage of the story.
Checkout this video and judge for yourself if we need to be concerned with the clash of worldviews, especially from within our own communities...
Here's the Sun-Sentinel's mediocre coverage of the story.
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