Comments on: Help out some science teachers http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/12/help-out-some-science-teachers/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:57:22 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: The Stone http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/12/help-out-some-science-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-51865 The Stone Thu, 08 Nov 2007 04:18:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/12/help-out-some-science-teachers/#comment-51865 This method allows teachers to name exactly what they need, without the need to resort to asking entrenched bureaucrats. It would be interesting to see what we would get if education was run more like Ebay than the wishing well. Imagine what you would spend your tax money on if you could pick things that were directly requested by teachers. I like this, and think its a great idea. This method allows teachers to name exactly what they need, without the need to resort to asking entrenched bureaucrats. It would be interesting to see what we would get if education was run more like Ebay than the wishing well. Imagine what you would spend your tax money on if you could pick things that were directly requested by teachers.

I like this, and think its a great idea.

]]> By: Quiet_Desperation http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/12/help-out-some-science-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-51864 Quiet_Desperation Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:47:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/12/help-out-some-science-teachers/#comment-51864 I recently lost my HP-28S. :( Some detective work and backtracking led me to believe it was accidentally knocked into a trash bin and thrown away. Utterly irreplacable unless I want to spend $$$ on eBay. I got a new HP-50S. It's OK, I guess. The keyboard is nicer than the 49, so maybe HP is getting serious about calculators again. Carly Fiorina killed the calculator division., damn her soul (or whatever). I recently lost my HP-28S. :( Some detective work and backtracking led me to believe it was accidentally knocked into a trash bin and thrown away. Utterly irreplacable unless I want to spend $$$ on eBay.

I got a new HP-50S. It’s OK, I guess. The keyboard is nicer than the 49, so maybe HP is getting serious about calculators again.

Carly Fiorina killed the calculator division., damn her soul (or whatever).

]]> By: Marlayna http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/12/help-out-some-science-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-51863 Marlayna Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:09:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/12/help-out-some-science-teachers/#comment-51863 Getting the government to give the money it's supposed to doesn't necessarily take that much time. Just good organization. Giving money out of your own wallets is like accepting the current situation. Not that it's a bad thing, but it isn't effective in the long run - how much money can be raised only by volunteering individuals? This is temporary relief of the problem and though it makes one feel oh-so-much a better person for donating, it really doesn't cut it. Standing up for your rights is more difficult, but it pays off much more in the end. I'm speaking as an outsider, as I'm not american, but note that I have personally sacrificed a lot - not just money - for better public education without donating a single cent to public institutions. Here in Greece, University students have had to go up against a serious attack on public education. We have fought, taken over Universities, got out on the streets and protested for long periods of time and specifically in my department we lost two exam periods. High price to pay, but I believe what we achieved was worth it in the end. Getting the government to give the money it’s supposed to doesn’t necessarily take that much time. Just good organization.

Giving money out of your own wallets is like accepting the current situation. Not that it’s a bad thing, but it isn’t effective in the long run – how much money can be raised only by volunteering individuals? This is temporary relief of the problem and though it makes one feel oh-so-much a better person for donating, it really doesn’t cut it.

Standing up for your rights is more difficult, but it pays off much more in the end.

I’m speaking as an outsider, as I’m not american, but note that I have personally sacrificed a lot – not just money – for better public education without donating a single cent to public institutions. Here in Greece, University students have had to go up against a serious attack on public education. We have fought, taken over Universities, got out on the streets and protested for long periods of time and specifically in my department we lost two exam periods. High price to pay, but I believe what we achieved was worth it in the end.

]]> By: Rob the Lurker FCD BMWCCA http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/12/help-out-some-science-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-51861 Rob the Lurker FCD BMWCCA Sun, 14 Oct 2007 00:36:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/12/help-out-some-science-teachers/#comment-51861 I concur. The HP-15C rocks! I carry mine with me everywhere I go. I concur. The HP-15C rocks! I carry mine with me everywhere I go.

]]> By: Freethinkers are a happy and generous people [Pharyngula] · New York Articles http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/12/help-out-some-science-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-51862 Freethinkers are a happy and generous people [Pharyngula] · New York Articles Sat, 13 Oct 2007 16:28:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/12/help-out-some-science-teachers/#comment-51862 [...] and many thanks to Phil for drawing in the astronomy crowd. Even people who stare into the cold, unfeeling void for fun are glad to help a good [...] [...] and many thanks to Phil for drawing in the astronomy crowd. Even people who stare into the cold, unfeeling void for fun are glad to help a good [...]

]]> By: CafeenMan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/12/help-out-some-science-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-51860 CafeenMan Sat, 13 Oct 2007 13:30:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/12/help-out-some-science-teachers/#comment-51860 I second the Reverse Polish Notation calculators. My HP-15C still rocks! I second the Reverse Polish Notation calculators. My HP-15C still rocks!

]]> By: JackC http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/12/help-out-some-science-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-51859 JackC Sat, 13 Oct 2007 06:12:12 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/12/help-out-some-science-teachers/#comment-51859 Quiet D - I like your stuff more and more! I have been unable to use Algebraic since Guam in 76 when I got my first HP-45. My favourite trick it to hand my calculator to someone who has asked for it, turn to someone else and quietly mouth the words Where's the Equals key??" - about 3 seconds before the person with my calculator says those very words :-) JC Quiet D – I like your stuff more and more! I have been unable to use Algebraic since Guam in 76 when I got my first HP-45. My favourite trick it to hand my calculator to someone who has asked for it, turn to someone else and quietly mouth the words Where’s the Equals key??” – about 3 seconds before the person with my calculator says those very words :-)

JC

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