Math challenged

Today I went to lunch with some co-workers (two to be exact) and we were served by a very pretty girl who probably was only 20 or so.

We all noted how efficient she was. She did it all by the numbers and she did it well. First you say hi, then you ask what we want to drink, you bring the drinks and that gives us time to decide what we are going to eat. We didn't even have to look around to give her the clue that we needed anything. Our drinks (ice tea and soda.....my company isn't THAT cool) never got empty and the bill was prompt. We were going to leave her a fat tip.

When we divvied up the bill (which was $36) one of the guys owed the other guy lunch so we decided to split the bill by thirds and one guy pays two of those thirds and I pay one third. Everybody with me so far? Ok, that means ya'll successfully passed 6th grade.

Ok so this is the next challange: For a bill of $36 and I am paying 1/3rd, how much should our pretty little server charge to my credit car? Oh, here's the extra credit, how much does the server charge to the other guys bill?

Insert Double Jeapordy music here....

Ok, time's up. Everyone put down your pensils. What's the answer? Well I am assuming that everyone here knows the answer, but here we go: Say it with me....$12 and $24. Yes! Your a winner! You get a gold star!!!!

Well, unfortunately, our pretty little server was not up to the challenge, stating something about not being able to do math. No gold star for her.

I just have one thing to say: WHAT THE FVCK!!?!?!??!?!

I know that registers are pretty good at calculating change (when people use cash, perish the thought) and calculators are EVERYWHERE (even my microwave has a calculator) but does no one teach math anymore? I mean basic crap that I learned in 5th grade!!!! This isn't algebra, or long division. This if FRACTIONS. Geez! Do they just forego math because that might challenge the "Everyone is a winner" mantra? Are our children's self-esteem so fragile that we dare not create any challenges?

Or is this because our pretty little server was so damn pretty that everyone just let her get away with out actually learning anything. Maybe she just smiled real pretty and the dorky math geek did her homework for her.

I know I am biased in that I have had as much math as you can with out actually going into a math major, but this is back in GRADE SCHOOL level!



My broke-dick, white-trash, red-neck eduma-cation got me way beyond fractions, it even got me to...gasp.....algebra, geometry and (wait for it....) TRIG!!! I wasn't even on the college prep track.

Do we think our school system is broken, I sure do.