Why do Americans make such a big deal on English and Grammar but such a little deal on Math and Science?

[shocksyde]

"Big deal on English and grammar..."

How about, "Big deal ABOUT English and grammar"?

 

[RapidSnail]

So why is it always "Americans" who have these problems? All I hear from people from other countries (an exaggeration) is bitching and moaning about how America "isn't the only country in the world" and then they go around attributing the world's problems to the United States while overusing the "dumb and fat" stereotype to boost themselves.

 

[Parasitic]

Originally posted by: vrbaba

... just like the "Americans" neglect the ability to teach science and math.

I believe you are just paraphrasing what the OP is trying to say. Its a known fact that US is far behind in teaching of those subjects.

Last time I checked, EVERY school on the top 50 USNews and World Report best college guide has programs in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, computer science, etc.

Just because not all of our high school kids can do triple integrals and solve second-order PDE's and not every one of our college student takes two whole years of physics like they do in India, it doesn't mean we neglect math and science.

It's simply because we have so many people, and rather than force everyone to be little scientists, our education system promotes and encourages students to excel in their own way. Just because not every student is jack of all trades, that doesn't mean we don't make a big deal about math and sciences.

A balanced society should have a good share of scientists and engineers, and also a share of artists and writers.

 

[vrbaba]

Originally posted by: Parasitic

Originally posted by: vrbaba

... just like the "Americans" neglect the ability to teach science and math.

I believe you are just paraphrasing what the OP is trying to say. Its a known fact that US is far behind in teaching of those subjects.

Last time I checked, EVERY school on the top 50 USNews and World Report best college guide has programs in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, computer science, etc.

What are you trying to argue?

I mentioned that US is far behind in teaching of those subjects... but you are giving me rankings of US colleges?

No school does PDEs in middle school... well, maybe they do, but that has nothing to do with what the OP said.

Even if other countries have more scientists and mathematicians, the OP is arguing that US cares more about english and grammar generally. Although, Bush is the strongest contradiction to his statement, but thats another issue.

 

[Jeff7]

Because nitpicking about grammar and spelling is easier than learning math or science.

 

[Parasitic]

Originally posted by: vrbaba

Originally posted by: Parasitic

Originally posted by: vrbaba

... just like the "Americans" neglect the ability to teach science and math.

I believe you are just paraphrasing what the OP is trying to say. Its a known fact that US is far behind in teaching of those subjects.

Last time I checked, EVERY school on the top 50 USNews and World Report best college guide has programs in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, computer science, etc.

What are you trying to argue?

I mentioned that US is far behind in teaching of those subjects... but you are giving me rankings of US colleges?

No school does PDEs in middle school... well, maybe they do, but that has nothing to do with what the OP said.

Even if other countries have more scientists and mathematicians, the OP is arguing that US cares more about english and grammar generally. Although, Bush is the strongest contradiction to his statement, but thats another issue.

My point is that even though our education system may be seemingly lacking in the math and sciences (especially in the earlier years of MS and HS), our country produces no shortage of great quality scientists and engineers.

 

[Train]

Because most people's math is a private thing?

I mean, how often is the avg person you come in contact with each day casually exposed to your "numbers" ?

A friend/coworker/relative may read an email of mine, or hear me speak, notice that I made a gramatical error, and correct me. But how often are those people going to say "hey man, you misplaced the decimal point on your credit card payment"... because chances are you are not sharing that information with them. Not to mention a lot of these things are automated now. My banks website adds up my bills for me, I just click pay.

Though that reminds me, the bartender at the local pub has corrected my addition a few times when I sign my tab. We now have a standing rule that she double checks my math (adding cost + tip to get the total) on Saturdays. Any other day of the week I'm fine, but on Saturdays is when I can't figure out that $100 + 20% = $120

 

[ktehmok]

In answer to the OP's question

For the most part, another persons math skills are irrelevant to me. Unless you're giving me change for the cheeseburger I just purchased, I do not care if you can count.

On the other hand, If I have to suffer through your 3rd grade grammar & spelling whilst I read your imbecilic posts. Yeah, I'm gonna call you on it.

Being corrected on your grammar should not be an offensive thing. it is the easiest way to learn. No one is perfect.

The internet is a perfect place to hone flawless grammar. But it has degraded into "R U SRSLY? ORLY? NO WAI!"

Idiotic, moronic, laziness.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: vrbaba
... just like the "Americans" neglect the ability to teach science and math.

I believe you are just paraphrasing what the OP is trying to say. Its a known fact that US is far behind in teaching of those subjects.

Are you talking about high school or college?

Because the weird thing about the US is that the high schools aren't that great for the most part, but there are a large number of TOP-tier universities.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy


Have you ever called Microsoft tech support?

yes i have and none of them fucking speak english

 

[CanOWorms]

It seems to me that math and science are a big deal, but not English and grammar. That's where most of the concern is about improving education.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

I have a feeling OP is basing this entirely on what he's seen on the Internet. There are a lot of Grammar Nazis on the Internet, true. The reason you don't see the Math & Physics Police is because airplane-treadmill/.9999...=1 etc. discussions can only pop up so often.

 

[Eeezee]

Where do you get that idea? I make a bigger deal out of math and science than spelling and grammar.

I think this might just be a matter of perception. How many threads do you read with math and science? How many threads do you read with words?

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
i make a big deal on English and Grammar and Math and Science


p.s. i am American

 

[alkemyst]

most seem to have most of their abc's down and with a spell/grammar checker can be the Webster and Roget's of the internet.

Unfortunately, most run out of brain power after using their fingers and toes and don't know enough to fire up an advanced calculator.

They do even worst with sciences.

 

[BornStar]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Math a science mean shit in the real world if you can't communicate with your fellow employees.

Am I the only one that finds this sentence hilarious?

Anyway, I feel they're all very important. Without math and science there wouldn't be much in the way of thoughts to convey through English.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: BornStar

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Math a science mean shit in the real world if you can't communicate with your fellow employees.

Am I the only one that finds this sentence hilarious?

Anyway, I feel they're all very important. Without math and science there wouldn't be much in the way of thoughts to convey through English.

I suppose you are. Care to elaborate?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: PurdueRy


Have you ever called Microsoft tech support?

yes i have and none of them fucking speak english

Bingo. Which illustrates how important it is to be able to communicate. I can be the smartest person in the world, but if I can't communicate with anyone, much of that power is lost.

 

[BornStar]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: BornStar

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Math a science mean shit in the real world if you can't communicate with your fellow employees.

Am I the only one that finds this sentence hilarious?

Anyway, I feel they're all very important. Without math and science there wouldn't be much in the way of thoughts to convey through English.

I suppose you are. Care to elaborate?

I believe the second word was supposed to be "and" but I just found it funny. You should have spent more time in Heavilon and less in EE.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: BornStar

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: BornStar

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Math a science mean shit in the real world if you can't communicate with your fellow employees.

Am I the only one that finds this sentence hilarious?

Anyway, I feel they're all very important. Without math and science there wouldn't be much in the way of thoughts to convey through English.

I suppose you are. Care to elaborate?

It doesn't make any sense. I believe the second word was supposed to be "and" but I just found it funny. You should have spent more time in Heavilon and less in EE.

Good point.

However, I actually take great pride in my writing and speaking skills. Maybe not so much on a forum, but when it matters I think I do a fairly good job.

Thanks for pointing out the typo.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

But but but. Us Asians always put emphasis on math & science. My parents didn't give a damn that I got a B in English Honors, but if I rolled in with a B on one of my tests in calculus it was like "WTFBBQ WE PAY LOTS OF MONEY FOR YOUR TUTORING." Oh and Asian tutoring is not "You're stupid, you need tutoring." It's more like a you-need-to-be-rank-1-so-we're-sending-you-to-this-Chinese-math-prep-thing-so-you-can-be-two-chapters-ahead-of-your-class deal. So yeah, I dunno, it depends. As a result I never had a problem scoring high on math and science. I got 5s on my APs with little effort and my SATs were nearly flawless in math. On the other hand I struggled with verbal SAT. Not English class, but I just didn't do as well. With that said it's not like my English/Grammar is below average or anything, I'm just not in the 99th percentile.

I always got yelled at for my not-so-perfect-essays and I thought my writing was crap but once I got to college... wow. I realized that paper writing is nowhere near hard at all. There are many stupid people in this world and being in the top high schools made me way too competetive.

 

[HannibalX]

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
Just curious.......

Why do you make broad generalizations? Just curious.

Oh and by the way, you're a knob.

 

[TeamZero]

lol @ you generalizing.

Idiot.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: Gigantopithecus

Originally posted by: darkswordsman17
Because most Americans suck at math and science so they'd just end up getting their asses handed to them. Then again, I would probably say most American's grammar and knowledge of the english language are as bad if not worse than their skills in math and science.

Aptly illustrated. :roll:

Wow, you suck at being a grammar Nazi, I mean you should've at least bolded what I screwed up. Its not like I could've purposefully not used proper grammar when criticizing other people for bad grammar or anything, because I was being completely serious writing what I did. :roll:

 

[DrPizza]

I watched a couple re-runs of the old "Dog eat Dog" game show - the version that was done in England. While it may not look like it, apparently we do emphasize math a little bit more than the English, at least in grade school. The contestants on those shows made the trailer park people that they dig up for "Are you smarter than a 5th grader" look like rocket scientists.