The next generation

[phideaux]

I knew it was bad buuutt..

Gotta tell this story.
Wife and I been out running around all day. She's in Walmart now , I'm in my normal place...parking lot.
In the college town of Murray KY.
Big University, so college kids work everywhere.

We just left Culver's , where we had lunch. 10 college students working behind the counter.
I love their Atlantic Cod fish dinners.
So we are ordering and wife says " he's a Vet" She always does that...I would never do that.
We go sit down , wife is looking at the reciept , I said that seems a little higher than normal.
She says, they didn't give me the Vets discount.
She wouldn't go tell them , so....I did.

I told the kids at the register he forgot the Vet discount...he said oh sorry and walked over and got his manager. Manager says. "no problem ", opens a secret drawer.

Now it gets interesting.

The total bill was $24,97.

So he pulls out $1 lays it on the counter ,says , I know that's a little more , but just keep it.

I said " how much is the discount , he says 10%.
I said 10% of what.

He mumbled something. I said what's 10% of $25 dollars he looked me in the eye and said "I don't know".
looking him in the eye I said , ok , what's 10% of $10, he said I don't know.
Finally I said , it's $1.
I said , so, what what 10% of $20 be,. He's thinking..
I said , I'll just tell ya , you owe me $2.50...
He gave me $3 and said thanks for the lesson.

He was ,probably, a senior student , little older than the others and he was Manager.

It's not gonna be bad out in the world, it already is.

Jim

 

[LadyLocust]

I knew it was bad buuutt..

Gotta tell this story.
Wife and I been out running around all day. She's in Walmart now , I'm in my normal place...parking lot.
In the college town of Murray KY.
Big University, so college kids work everywhere.

We just left Culver's , where we had lunch. 10 college students working behind the counter.
I love their Atlantic Cod fish dinners.
So we are ordering and wife says " he's a Vet" She always does that...I would never do that.
We go sit down , wife is looking at the reciept , I said that seems a little higher than normal.
She says, they didn't give me the Vets discount.
She wouldn't go tell them , so....I did.

I told the kids at the register he forgot the Vet discount...he said oh sorry and walked over and got his manager. Manager says. "no problem ", opens a secret drawer.

Now it gets interesting.

The total bill was $24,97.

So he pulls out $1 lays it on the counter ,says , I know that's a little more , but just keep it.

I said " how much is the discount , he says 10%.
I said 10% of what.

He mumbled something. I said what's 10% of $25 dollars he looked me in the eye and said "I don't know".
looking him in the eye I said , ok , what's 10% of $10, he said I don't know.
Finally I said , it's $1.
I said , so, what what 10% of $20 be,. He's thinking..
I said , I'll just tell ya , you owe me $2.50...
He gave me $3 and said thanks for the lesson.

He was ,probably, a senior , little older than the others and he was Manager.

It's not gonna be bad out in the world, it already is.

Jim

Put rocking because can't bring myself to put like. We had a college "educated" employee that could read a tape measure. If the measurement was 14 15/16", he would find 14 then count each little tick mark 1, 2, 3... up to 15 - couldn't go to 15 and back 1 tick mark

 

[The Lazy L]

I knew it was bad buuutt..

Gotta tell this story.
Wife and I been out running around all day. She's in Walmart now , I'm in my normal place...parking lot.
In the college town of Murray KY.
Big University, so college kids work everywhere.

We just left Culver's , where we had lunch. 10 college students working behind the counter.
I love their Atlantic Cod fish dinners.
So we are ordering and wife says " he's a Vet" She always does that...I would never do that.
We go sit down , wife is looking at the reciept , I said that seems a little higher than normal.
She says, they didn't give me the Vets discount.
She wouldn't go tell them , so....I did.

I told the kids at the register he forgot the Vet discount...he said oh sorry and walked over and got his manager. Manager says. "no problem ", opens a secret drawer.

Now it gets interesting.

The total bill was $24,97.

So he pulls out $1 lays it on the counter ,says , I know that's a little more , but just keep it.

I said " how much is the discount , he says 10%.
I said 10% of what.

He mumbled something. I said what's 10% of $25 dollars he looked me in the eye and said "I don't know".
looking him in the eye I said , ok , what's 10% of $10, he said I don't know.
Finally I said , it's $1.
I said , so, what what 10% of $20 be,. He's thinking..
I said , I'll just tell ya , you owe me $2.50...
He gave me $3 and said thanks for the lesson.

He was ,probably, a senior student , little older than the others and he was Manager.

It's not gonna be bad out in the world, it already is.

Jim

I'm surprised the Manager didn't pull out his smart phone and ask, "Siri. What is ten percent of twenty-four dollars and ninety-seven cents"

 

[Amish Heart]

We had a preschool teacher who had two years of college under her belt. We had no digital clocks in the building, and I wouldn't allow cell phones, except in the office in their personal cubbie. Found out she couldn't tell time at all on a regular clock.
I told her one day that she was mine for a half hour, and I'd pay her for her time. Got out one of those large telling time teaching clocks and taught her.

 

[Sourdough]

Got out one of those large telling time teaching clocks and taught her.

Did you tell her that is "National Guard" time........???

 

[Supervisor42]

The saddest part is, the vast majority of them have no clue how handicapped they are.
Like LL mentioned, they only thing they know how to do is ask their 'smartphone' a question.
There are still 'mean' old guys that will help them see how brainless they are.
One thing I loved about the Zombie-Hunts we put on, was both the camphouse as well as the range, were in 'cell-free' zones.
The young adults would grab their doohickey every 10 seconds for everything.
No-workey.
Super> "Not phone, use brain"

.
A 28-year-old guy with a wife and kids, no clue how to use jumper-cables.
No idea what red or black meant.
No clue even where to hook the clamps.
Couldn't even point to the "thing" under his hood that is called a battery.
Yes, they are everywhere.
...And they are our future.

 

[SLADE]

I listened for the time not look for the time.

 

[backlash]

I paid for lunch once with a 20 and a 1. The bill was 10.50 and the girl was totally confused. She got a paper and pencil and was trying to figure it out so I told her she owed me a 10 and 2 quarters. She kept trying to figure it out so I had to help her do the subtraction. She was a student at Seattle University.
Unfortunately, it's only going to get worse. The education system has failed the kids and the parents don't care. Not all of course but enough that we are doomed.
I saw a kid (20 something) with the hood up on his BMW. I asked if he needed a jump start. His reply was "this is a new car and they don't have a battery". OK have a nice day and I drove off.

 

[Weedygarden]

I knew it was bad buuutt..

Gotta tell this story.
Wife and I been out running around all day. She's in Walmart now , I'm in my normal place...parking lot.
In the college town of Murray KY.
Big University, so college kids work everywhere.

We just left Culver's , where we had lunch. 10 college students working behind the counter.
I love their Atlantic Cod fish dinners.
So we are ordering and wife says " he's a Vet" She always does that...I would never do that.
We go sit down , wife is looking at the reciept , I said that seems a little higher than normal.
She says, they didn't give me the Vets discount.
She wouldn't go tell them , so....I did.

I told the kids at the register he forgot the Vet discount...he said oh sorry and walked over and got his manager. Manager says. "no problem ", opens a secret drawer.

Now it gets interesting.

The total bill was $24,97.

So he pulls out $1 lays it on the counter ,says , I know that's a little more , but just keep it.

I said " how much is the discount , he says 10%.
I said 10% of what.

He mumbled something. I said what's 10% of $25 dollars he looked me in the eye and said "I don't know".
looking him in the eye I said , ok , what's 10% of $10, he said I don't know.
Finally I said , it's $1.
I said , so, what what 10% of $20 be,. He's thinking..
I said , I'll just tell ya , you owe me $2.50...
He gave me $3 and said thanks for the lesson.

He was ,probably, a senior student , little older than the others and he was Manager.

It's not gonna be bad out in the world, it already is.

Jim

I have no idea about him, but when I was teaching I quickly learned there are cheaters. They pretend to do the work, but when tested on it, they know nothing, can't do the work. They have cheated one way or another and the person they cheat the most is themselves.
I knew a young man. He was going into 6th grade and the teacher had told his father that his math abilities were way below normal. I started to work with him. He was kind of at a first grade level. He couldn't begin to do fractions because he had never learned his math facts. He had no idea that 4 + 4 = 8, let alone the other 100 or so combinations. I have no idea how this is allowed to happen. Everything is built on a foundation and sooner or later those who cheat through the basics are completely lost. And should be embarrassed at themselves.

 

[Spikedriver]

This stuff makes me glad I grew up when I did, where I did. All those basics got drilled into us without mercy. I'm math retarded, and I still can't do algebra, but if you give me a pencil I can add, subtract, multiply, or divide anything. Not because I like to, but because I had to. Now I suppose they don't learn stuff because it makes them feel bad...

 

[Morgan101]

My wife and I were just discussing all of the mistakes that are made in Doctors' offices, most of which seem to be made by millennials. It is very frustrating when records are not sent as they should be and errors are made on permanent records, and it has gotten worse over the years.

All of this talk about percentages reminded me of a joke I thought you would all enjoy. The CEO of a large corporation received a notice of a payment they were going to receive. It did not give an amount, but only the percentage. The CEO was not very good with %'s either so he asked his young, attractive, college student secretary " If I gave you $52,000.00 less 13% how much would you take off?" The young girl thought for a second, and then replied " Everything but my earrings."

 

[Cascadian]

Well like most here we didn't raise any idiots. My son and I built a wooden fence in front of his house. Our first one and it turned out great. His MIL said how do you know how to do that? We said how does anyone not?

 

[Curmudgeon]

My younguns struggle with math in their head, simple math at that. They were forced to do the Common Core crap in school.

We were told at a parent/teacher conference that they didn't even have to come up with correct answers to pass the class, as long as they showed their work.

 

[Morgan101]

We were told at a parent/teacher conference that they didn't even have to come up with correct answers to pass the class, as long as they showed their work.

Call me old fashioned, but I would like the Engineer or the Architect of the bridge I am crossing or the building I am entering to get it right. Not just show there work.

 

[Neb]

We play on the fly math games to help the granddaughters.

Want to raid grampa's stash? Do math
How long until half way thru movie and eat brownies? Do math.

Even the seven year old can convert hours and minutes and determine how ling until brownie time.

Ben

 

[Bacpacker]

We had it drilled in our heads growing up. Parents even worked with us. I recall mother working flash cards with me. I can still do math in my head. Sometimes I do that just to stay in practice. Never had any algebra classes, but different jobs I've had I had to learn some. Wish I had took all the higher level math in high school.

 

[phideaux]

I loved math and was good at it.
My wife can't believe when we go shopping , at check out I already know how much. I have save lots of money over the years by telling her she was overcharged...sure nuff receipt agrees with me.
She goes back and gets her refund.

Just a hobby I guess.

Jim

 

[The Lazy L]

I believe a lot of knowledge is dependent on how you were raised.

In-laws say, "I can't do that!" without trying. They learned to ask others to do it for them.

My dad asked me, "Did you try? No? Then how do you know you can't?" I learned how to do many things by learning first how not to!

My wife use to say that I should do <whatever> because it's easier for her. I'd responded by saying, "It maybe easier for you but it isn't for me."

Then there is the college graduate SIL that was having a hard time using a electronic calculator to find the answer to $1.98 times 2. I told her $3.96 and she didn't believe me. Between her and another SIL they figured out the calculator and confirmed my answer was right. "You guessed, didn't you!"

"No. Add two cents to the $1.98 and you have $2. 2 times 2 equals 4 (their eyes started glazing over here. I was pass their attention span period) so I stopped my explanation.

 

[Terri9630]

The kid and my sister had problems with fractions until I started teaching them how to cook. The kids favorite cookie recipe makes a trillion cookies so we had to sit down and divide it by 12 and it still makes 3 dozen cookies!

 

[LadyLocust]

The kid and my sister had problems with fractions until I started teaching them how to cook. The kids favorite cookie recipe makes a trillion cookies so we had to sit down and divide it by 12 and it still makes 3 dozen cookies!

Usually 5th grade is fractions - I say the best way to teach fractions is with a Hershey bar, break it in 1/2 then 1/4s etc. Keeps kids attention and if you say well I will get the one over two and you can have the one over four - if they say no, Why not etc.
The other best time is in preschool believe it or not. Get a big tote full of rice or beans and measuring cups - they learn quickly how many 4ths it takes to fill the 1 whole or backwards how many fourths you can fill with one whole. Lots of ways depending upon age. Cookies are definitely a good way

 

[phideaux]

Kids aren't being taught anything by parents.

my 14 year old grandson was over the other day to help me do some things.
So I'm building a raised bed for wife's strawberries.
I wanted him to use the drill driver to screw boards together saving me some work.

He never has driven a deck screw. He couldn't do it. Never got the hang of keeping the bit aligned with the screw. Ruined a bunch of screws.

I gave up.

I was shocked he never used a drill.

Sad

Jim

 

[Morgan101]

I will be the first to admit I was never any good at math. I always struggled. That said I was reasonably good at Arithmetic, which I had beaten into me by nuns. I guess I was lucky that throughout my business career the only math (Arithmetic) I had to use was basic functions, fractions, and percentages, and I was completely competent in that.

 

[Spikedriver]

Kids aren't being taught anything by parents.

my 14 year old grandson was over the other day to help me do some things.
So I'm building a raised bed for wife's strawberries.
I wanted him to use the drill driver to screw boards together saving me some work.

He never has driven a deck screw. He couldn't do it. Never got the hang of keeping the bit aligned with the screw. Ruined a bunch of screws.

I gave up.

I was shocked he never used a drill.

Sad

Jim

Kids don't get taught those things as much as they used to, but some of us just aren't naturally handy either. I'm pretty worthless as a carpenter or plumber, but over the years I've learned how to do some basics.

Kids don't build stuff just for fun anymore either. When I was 9 I build my own "treehouse" which was really just some boards across two horizontal limbs in a box elder tree. But I had to gather lumber from the scrap pile, measure, cut, drag the boards up the ladder, and nail the boards in the right spot. It was crude, but it was still there 20 years later. I suppose I did it just because I wanted to play in the tree. Today's kids are in front of a video game instead of doing all those things...

 

[Bacpacker]

I'm so lucky I grew up farming. We worked on what ever needed fixing. I'm not great at a lot of stuff, but i can figure out how to tackle most anything

 

[Supervisor42]

I'm so lucky I grew up farming. We worked on what ever needed fixing. I'm not great at a lot of stuff, but i can figure out how to tackle most anything

Me too! There are a lot of skills I hope I never need again.
Like when you are a teenager and you hear your mom say:
"Bring that big curved carpet needle, that heavy nylon string you tie hooks on the trot-line with, and some pliers. We got a cow that prolapsed."

Been there, stitched that.

 

[SheepDog]

Math has been easy for me since second grade. I saw the connections between addition and multiplication and subtraction and division. Plane geometry was easy and algebra too. Geometry 2 was fun and parts of calculus were great fun to work with.
i do wish I had gone on to physics as I sometimes struggle with it.

 

[phideaux]

It's out there...

THIS IS HOW BAD IT IS OUT THERE...

So I am at Walmart scanning and bagging my almost $300 worth of groceries while the employee that wants $15 an hour "monitors" and then this happened.
Her - why are you double bagging all of your groceries?
Me - excuse me?
Her - you are wasting our bags!
Me - if you don't like the way I'm bagging the groceries, feel free to come on over here and bag them yourself.
Her - that's not my job!
Me - okay, then I will bag my groceries how I please if that's all right with you.
Her - why are you using two bags?!
Me - because the bags are weak and I don't want the handles to break or the bottoms to rip out.
Her - well that's because you are putting too much stuff in the bag. If you took half of that stuff out and put it in a different bag then you wouldn't need to double bag.
*10 seconds of me just staring at her.
Me - so you want me to split these items in half and put half of them in a different bag so that I don't have to double bag.
Her - exactly.
Me - so I would still be using two bags to hold the same number of items.
Her - no because you wouldn't be double bagging.
*me pressing two fingers to my left eye in an attempt to make it stop twitching.
Me - okay so here I have a jug of milk and a bottle of juice double bagged. If I take the milk out and remove the double bagging and just put the milk in the single bag and the juice in that single bag I'm still using two bags for these two items.
Her- no because you are not double bagging them so it's not the same number of bags.
*me looking around at about 10 other customers who at this point are enjoying the show.
Me- is this like that Common Core math stuff I keep hearing about?
Her- never mind you just don't get it.
And with that she went back to her little Podium so she could continue texting or playing games on her phone or whatever it was she was doing before she decided to come over and critique my bagging skills.

Jim

 

[NevadaBlue]

Well, I like you guys. This feels like home. Makes me happy.

 

[The Lazy L]

Kids aren't being taught anything by parents.

my 14 year old grandson was over the other day to help me do some things.
...He never has driven a deck screw. He couldn't do it. Never got the hang of keeping the bit aligned with the screw. .... I was shocked he never used a drill.

SIL was suggesting that I clean out the roof gutters on her one story house. I replied by asking if her 30 year old son was back living with her? "Yes", was her puzzled answer. "Then why doesn't your son clean out the gutters for you?!?!" Her excuse? "He's never had a Father to show him how!" One of the few times I've lost my cool with the in-laws. I couldn't believe that a person would require training to clean gutters! I responded with verbal instructions on how to, "CLIMB LADDER. USE HAND TO REMOVE DEBRIS IN THE GUTTER, CLIMB DOWN LADDER, MOVE LADDER AND REPEAT!" SIL stared at me for a bit then "Whoa is me" to her other BIL who took pity on her.

 

[phideaux]

@The Lazy L , I doubt if any of my grandkids (or their dads ) would even know what a gutter is.

Sad.

Jim