Augmented Post

Sometimes I have more to say. From a previous post:


You can know the name of a bird in all the languages of the world, but when you're finished, you'll know absolutely nothing whatever about the bird... So let's look at the bird and see what it's doing -- that's what counts. I learned very early the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something. -Richard Feynman


Memorization is not education.


Memorization is not education but sometimes it is required in order to be educated. I have found while tutoring high school students having trouble with math that the root of their trouble lies with the lack of having ever learned addition and multiplication tables. I guess the thinking is that this memorization is not so important because we have calculators for these mundane tasks (teaching social interaction takes precedence).


Let me give you a somewhat real example: You walk into a convenience store to get a soft drink; they have 16 oz drinks for 79 cents or 64 oz drinks for $3.25. Quick - which is the better buy? Are you going to whip out your calculator? If you have memorized your multiplication tables and how many ounces are in a pint the problem becomes much simpler to do in your head. (If you are still struggling - the 16 oz drink is a better buy). If you have never memorized you multiplication tables it become impossible to mentally calculate that 4 time 16 is equal to 64 - or that 16 oz is a pint and 64 oz is a half-gallon which is 4 pints because there are 2 pints to a quart and 4 quarts to a gallon. That you have memorized these mundane facts allows you to not only solve the problem but lets you practice your reasoning skills - a very valuable skill.


If a student spends just a few minutes a day memorizing addition and multiplication facts then they are better able to learn to reason their way through a problem. By learning to reason they are not only better equipped to solve math problems but also life's problems. My students generally go from the bottom of the class to the top of the class within a month or so - not because they are geniuses but because they have tools to use. Not only have they become better math students but they become better people. Learning to reason is the education but memorized facts are the tools.


Here's a list of facts every kid should be required to memorize:
Addition tables
Multiplication tables
Inches in a foot
Inches in a yard
Feet in a yard
Feet in a mile
Pints in a quart
Quarts in a gallon
Ounces in a pint
Pounds in a ton
Pounds in a pint
Boiling point of water (Fahrenheit and Celsius)
Freezing point of water (Fahrenheit and Celsius)
Amount of a First class postage stamp
mm in a cm
mm in a m
cm in a m
Inches in a meter
ml in a Liter
Seconds in a minute
Minutes in a hour
Hours in a day
Work days per month (approximately)
Days in a month
Days in a year


The next time you are talking to a high school student ask them some of these facts, you might be surprised at how little they know. Think about how little time is needed to learn these basics which may very well make them better people.