by hhhsmath06 » Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:42 am
addendum:
b4 a feverent person throws rock @ me, i have to say that no one can deny how much ns improves an individual's arithmetics. AND that's my point, elementary/middle school (esp. elementary) math focuses on arithmetics, and good arithmetics is one of the most fundatmental skills in math, imagine how can someone go through a prove without a solid background in manipulating numbers! Therefore, NS, in MY OPINION, is absolutely ideal for elementary level competitions, because it help kids build a strong foundation for math. HOWEVER, hs and college math are (or should be) more analytical, conceptial, and abstract than elementary level math. Therefore, ns is practically pointless because it involves nothing but arithmetics and memorizations (which are supposed to be mastered already back in ms and es), and these do not help a person become a mathematician. Again, different grade levels need different style tests that build a person's knowledge layer by layer...just like you don't see a completely ripped body builder lifting 1-lb dumbbells everyday, ns doesn't suit hs all that well...
again, with that said, i love ns to death...
q