One of the things wrong with modern education is that kids don’t learn math. This can be verified in almost any retail establishment, using this simple and fun game: Find a young sales associate that looks like he or she is under 21. (Disclaimer: male sales associates are easier to find, as all female sales associates look 23.) Purchase an item which costs $4.33, and hand the sales associate a five-dollar bill and eight pennies. The game is scored as follows:
- Score two points if he gives you the wrong change.
- Score one point if he gives you back the 8 pennies, and then gives you the correct change.
- Score one point if he uses a calculator at any point.
- Score zero points if he hands you back 3 quarters.
- Lose a point if he does this without relying on the cash register readout.
This is an easy problem to correct. Simply find a school-age child. Wait for them to say “I hate math” or “When am I ever going to use this?” Then get an indelible marker and write across the child’s forehead “CHEAT ME!”
(Disclaimer 1: If the child is already out of school, it is OK to use a tattoo.)
(Disclaimer 2: This is best done to other people’s children, unless you want your children to live with you forever.)
A Labor of Like 