Anything more than algebra II is a waste of time and money for all but a few physicists. So while the rest of the world is wasting resources on math, the US is doing productive work. It's time to dethrone the tyranny of math.
I disagree. Statistics is massively important for many modern professions, or just for cultivating an informed, critically-minded populace, yet it's given short shrift in our educational system.
And although I no longer use calculus in my daily work, the discipline and problem solving skills it gave me are invaluable assets for my daily management duties.
Are you familiar with the Deming Method of statistical quality control? Measuring a small sample of a batch of parts, if the small sample is within tolerance, the whole batch is accepted. If not, the whole batch is rejected. The American auto industry said no thanks when he presented it to them, so he took it to Japan. They implemented it. The red and black circles in any Consumer's Report on autos shows the resulting quality. Today the national quality award in Japan is named after Deming.
Great point, Mike! Even to this day, too many American managers ignore Deming's inisghts and methods and focus instead on quarterly metrics, even as they pay lip service to TQM.
Out of the Crisis is as fresh today at it was in the 80s. All managers should have a basic understanding of it--and Statistics!
I was just going to ask about Singapore. Last I knew they were number one. They even have a hell of a good math curriculum that is spreading like wild fire.
Although I had only a minimal aptitude for it, I took 5 different classes in HS from a single math teacher that I love/hated. I breezed through my college calculus class, barely attending class, and then then discovered that most math teachers sucked.
Anything more than algebra II is a waste of time and money for all but a few physicists. So while the rest of the world is wasting resources on math, the US is doing productive work. It's time to dethrone the tyranny of math.
ReplyDeleteSomeone doesn't like math.
DeleteI think we should start small - first let's dethrone econometric and then let's worry about other less productive uses of mathematics.
DeleteI disagree. Statistics is massively important for many modern professions, or just for cultivating an informed, critically-minded populace, yet it's given short shrift in our educational system.
ReplyDeleteAnd although I no longer use calculus in my daily work, the discipline and problem solving skills it gave me are invaluable assets for my daily management duties.
Are you familiar with the Deming Method of statistical quality control? Measuring a small sample of a batch of parts, if the small sample is within tolerance, the whole batch is accepted. If not, the whole batch is rejected. The American auto industry said no thanks when he presented it to them, so he took it to Japan. They implemented it. The red and black circles in any Consumer's Report on autos shows the resulting quality. Today the national quality award in Japan is named after Deming.
DeleteGreat point, Mike! Even to this day, too many American managers ignore Deming's inisghts and methods and focus instead on quarterly metrics, even as they pay lip service to TQM.
DeleteOut of the Crisis is as fresh today at it was in the 80s. All managers should have a basic understanding of it--and Statistics!
Sorry, Mic, I should have written.
DeleteIt's quite clear we need Rand RepubliCAN in there so he can "reform" and make more "efficient" America's education system !
ReplyDeleteWhere is Singapore ?
Aren't they usually in the top 10 ?
I was just going to ask about Singapore. Last I knew they were number one. They even have a hell of a good math curriculum that is spreading like wild fire.
DeleteAlthough I had only a minimal aptitude for it, I took 5 different classes in HS from a single math teacher that I love/hated. I breezed through my college calculus class, barely attending class, and then then discovered that most math teachers sucked.
ReplyDeleteGary Stafford, you continue to set the bar high when I think of teachers. Sorry we rolled your yard with toilet paper!!!
ReplyDeleteKinda sorta helps explain the Fed's superior forecasting, no?
ReplyDelete