This article is about a professor at University of Pennsylvania, Dennis DeTurck, who claimed that fractions were obsolete and were not useful in society anymore. This was with the exception of cooking and carpentry. I disagree completely, especially after reading the chapters in our book on ratio, proportion and percents. I feel as though students need fractions for more than just cooking and carpentry. It seems a lot easier to use fractions when figuring out problems involving ratios, proportions, and percents. For example, when given a problem comparing ratios, it is easier to use fractions to figure them out than decimals or other methods. I agree with Janine Remillard, associate professor of education at Penn, that if fractions are taught well, kids can actually understand the value of the size of pieces.
As far as long division is concerned, I feel that with the availability of calculators and technology today, long division does not need to be taught as intensely as it is currently taught. I especially think that students who struggle in math could benefit more greatly from learning other aspects of math. I think that teaching the basics of division and estimation can help a student more greatly in solving real life problems.
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