I just asked my granddaughter (in college) if she wanted the slide rule that belonged to my Dad, her great-grandfather. She said (wait for it): "I don't really know what that is."

I told her it was from the stone age, after the abacus and before the calculator. Aaaarrgghh.

My Dad used to have one of those old "adding machines" where you punch in the number and then pull down the handle. It prints the number on a little paper tape that you can pull off. It probably weighed 30 pounds!

I wish I still had it!

I had a slide rule. My dad gave it to me. Never really could use it very well...I'm math challenged. I'm only 42 tho...

What's the slide rule made out of? Mine was plastic, but felt really cool.

In High School my kids had to get Graphing Calculator (think they also do what slide rules did - but just a guess). Way above my tech IQ.

I still use my fingers and remember my flash cards.

With all this stuff do kids really know math? Or do they depend on their electronics?

I dont think kids pay as much attention to learning math as they made my class do.

I've gone to McD's and the kid at the register couldnt figure out the change for something that costs $4.73 when I gave him a $5. (.27 cents) Their computers were down, and the poor kid was trying to figure out things on a calculator. (the manager had to go in back for a minute. The kid was trying to do the math that she had been doing for him)

I'm math challenged, but when I worked at McD's, I could at least make change without a computer or cash register telling me what to do.

Remember when we had to buy supplies for math class? Nothing was computerized or automated.

Do kids still have to bring a math compass to school? That thing could potentially stab someone! Are those things considered a weapon now?

Yes I remember having to have all those dangerous math tools. Actually you could stab someone with a sharp pencil, Kell!!

Considering that I've seen stories about a pair of plastic safety scissors being considered a weapon, yeah...I think a math compass would no longer be allowed. Or at least no longer made of metal.

I bet they're made out of plastic or something now.

~pause while I google~

yep! they are plastic now. http://www.schoolmart.com/plasticsaf...s-setof12.aspx