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F Frances's avatar

Seven IS a bad shape! My mom altogether gave up on teaching us math past like 5th grade. We had DVDs we were expected to watch on our own time (all time was our own, so it was infinitely procrastinate-able). I would run the dvd and spend the hour smushing ink berries into a cup to use for my calligraphy. You ever look at a fraction with a denominator larger than five and think "what, they expect me to make sense of that mess?" That math score should be in your linkedin bio, what a flex.

Also, drop the og SATire essay, I've been looking for more ways to use "blitzkrieg" organically.

G. Marie's avatar

Hahaha this is iconic! I met someone recently who said that when she was homeschooled she just read novels when she was supposed to be working on math. Three years later her mom was like "where are the math textbooks" and she was like "what math textbooks?"

G. Marie's avatar

Unfortunately SATire is somewhere in the US so I couldn't consult it for the writing of this piece :(

F Frances's avatar

Ah, the trials of pre-google docs drafts!

Mark's avatar

“Fun” fact re: note 3 if you weren’t aware, on how higher ed institutions are evil. Until 2022 they could count withdrawn and unfinished applications toward their numbers of those rejected to artificially reduce their acceptance rate to seem cool and exclusive

G. Marie's avatar

ahahahaha TWISTED!!

Terri Aqui's avatar

First of all, you are right that the number 7 is bad. 6 is the best number and even numbers outrank odd. Secondly, your brother also managed a 1st percentile score in "math computation." A heschool products vendor once pointed out to me that standardized tests are different than the SAT because the SAT is an "aptitude" test so it more about whether you understand math terms and processes.Apparemtly a lot of

homeschoolers test badly on math computation because they are not doing hours of it every day. But they do okay with the SAT math. I still am absurdly proud of those 1st percentile scores. It was like therapy to me. "Look, this happened and the world did not end. The math police did not come to my door to shame me for having children who were

not interested in math. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter."

G. Marie's avatar

So glad you agree about 7! 6 is a rogue choice for best number though.

That's interesting re: the differences between SAT math and other standardized tests! On a somewhat related note, I think the college board stopped using the term "aptitude" because it sounds too eugenics-y.

G. Marie's avatar

Also I see that means I must have remembered your reaction somewhat incorrectly! Maybe I'm confusing your reaction to Michael with me or something.

Terri Aqui's avatar

Did you think I was disappointed? If you never do much math you are not going to score high on math computation.

Terri Aqui's avatar

I wasn't disappointed in Michael's either which caused some scandal with the certified teachers in the family.

G. Marie's avatar

No I never thought you expected a high score! I think I was just embarrassed.