The Fonz's Struggle with Geometry: Henry Winkler's Candid Confessions

[mathdad]

Henry Wrinkler who played the Fonz in the 1970s sitcom Happy Days took geometry several times in high school. Henry said that he never understood the Pythagorean Theorem. In several recent and not so recent interviews, Henry Wrinkler aka THE FONZ talked about the fact that his parents put him down for most of his childhood and teen years.

If we say something over and over again, people begin to accept it as true. So, FONZIE was not a good student but mainly because he was convinced by others that he did not have what it takes to succesfully pass geometry not to mention other courses. What do you say?

 

[HallsofIvy]

You give us information about "Henry Winkler" and ask about "Fonzie". I say that "Fonzie" and "Henry Winkler" are not the same person. We cannot conclude anything about "Fonzie" from what "Henry Winkler" says of himself.

 

[MarkFL]

If a child's parents consistently put a child down, then I think this can have negative consequences on the child. I think there are a great many issues that combine to ultimately determine whether a student can succeed in school. I didn't do very well with mathematics in high school...this was not the fault of my parents, teachers, or the educational system as a whole...it was entirely my fault, as I decided I wanted to ditch class and run around like a wild child. :)

 

[mathdad]

You give us information about "Henry Winkler" and ask about "Fonzie". I say that "Fonzie" and "Henry Winkler" are not the same person. We cannot conclude anything about "Fonzie" from what "Henry Winkler" says of himself.

Henry Winkler is an actor famously known for playing the role of THE FONZ in the famous sitcom Happy Days. It is the same guy.

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If a child's parents consistently put a child down, then I think this can have negative consequences on the child. I think there are a great many issues that combine to ultimately determine whether a student can succeed in school. I didn't do very well with mathematics in high school...this was not the fault of my parents, teachers, or the educational system as a whole...it was entirely my fault, as I decided I wanted to ditch class and run around like a wild child. :)

In high school, you did not take your math courses seriously but it does not mean that you lacked understanding. You are an intelligent person. When you finally decided to study and learn, math was no longer an issue as proven in this website by your answers to questions.

 

[MarkFL]

...In high school, you did not take your math courses seriously but it does not mean that you lacked understanding. You are an intelligent person. When you finally decided to study and learn, math was no longer an issue as proven in this website by your answers to questions.

Yes, and I was just pointing out that there can be other reasons a student fails besides lack of innate ability to understand the material, or an inept education system. Consider also a student who has a rough life at home, and who is constantly worried about issues there...such a student will likely have a hard time succeeding in school.

Now, if we find a class of students, and the majority of them are failing, then we can perhaps say the issue is not with the students individually, but with the class itself, either a teacher who isn't performing well, or an education system that is failing to meet the needs of the students. However, the issue could be in the community itself...it's a very complicated issue. I'm not saying we shouldn't try to improve, but we should be careful where we point our fingers.

One thing I have always thought is that we as a society should value teachers more and pay them at a level that is consistent with other fields requiring similar levels of education. Also, it saddens me to hear of teachers who have to buy supplies out of pocket. These kinds of things sends a message that we as a society don't place much value on education. We (the U.S.) wage war all over the globe at incredible expense, and then we tell our children we just don't have the money to fund their music department. There's something fundamentally wrong with this picture.

 

[mathdad]

Yes, and I was just pointing out that there can be other reasons a student fails besides lack of innate ability to understand the material, or an inept education system. Consider also a student who has a rough life at home, and who is constantly worried about issues there...such a student will likely have a hard time succeeding in school.

Now, if we find a class of students, and the majority of them are failing, then we can perhaps say the issue is not with the students individually, but with the class itself, either a teacher who isn't performing well, or an education system that is failing to meet the needs of the students. However, the issue could be in the community itself...it's a very complicated issue. I'm not saying we shouldn't try to improve, but we should be careful where we point our fingers.

One thing I have always thought is that we as a society should value teachers more and pay them at a level that is consistent with other fields requiring similar levels of education. Also, it saddens me to hear of teachers who have to buy supplies out of pocket. These kinds of things sends a message that we as a society don't place much value on education. We (the U.S.) wage war all over the globe at incredible expense, and then we tell our children we just don't have the money to fund their music department. There's something fundamentally wrong with this picture.

1. I agree here 100 percent.

2. Teachers deserve more money and respect.

3. I plan to start using the MHB for help mainly with word problems. I promise to show my work, right or wrong. I will show my solution steps, right or wrong hoping for someone like yourself (and others) to help me with the set up of the problems I do not grasp.

4. The time has come for me to "master" word problems and in turn help others with word problems. When word problems are converted to equations, this is art work.