Technical Theatre - Tumblr Posts
I always had what I thought was "trouble" with math when I was in school. I could -do- the math, I understood how to use the equations, but my brain is no good for memorizing which to use when.
So every test would be like "use one of the five equations you learned this past week to solve these problems. And also figure out which equation solves which problem" and I'd struggle miserably.
I knew I could DO it. I just couldn't remember how. So it was very frustrating.
High School in Southern Ontario in the late 90s only required 2 Maths credits to graduate, so once I had done my obligatory Grade 9 and 10 and barely passed both, I waved goodbye to stupid memory problems.
"It's not like you're going to have a calculator in your pocket" the teachers warned.
Comes the end of Grade 11 and my guidance councillor asks in a puzzled tone as he reviews my Grade 12 choices "Where's your math?" :Fuck THAT: I laugh. To which I got the typical "maths are important" arguments.
:Yes, they are: I agreed. :And I love problem solving. But I can't keep track of which equation solves what problems, and almost fail. Why would I knowingly take a course that causes me distress and annoyance, that I might very well bomb?:
He considered this, then responded with "But what about Technical Math?". Eh?
Normal Math, he explained, is crafted for scientists and doctors, who must pull formula from thin air to solve problems and save lives. Hence the focus on memorisation.
Technical Math, however, was designed more for Trades workers. And every shop has a handbook somewhere on a shelf that breaks down how to solve your problems. So the focus was less on memorizing, and more on understanding, as well as usable note taking, because all tests were open book.
Well THAT was enticing. I could DO the math, and my penmanship was meticulous after several years of drafting education. I agreed to give it a shot, and signed up for the Grade 11 course.
As expected, the class was mostly loaded with what were considered the deadbeats and the druggies, looking for a sleeper course. There were perhaps three or four other people "like me".
And once the ability to solve the problems no longer hinged on my dodgy memory, I was able to blast through the course with an A+, something that was unimaginable for me in math up until that point.
And I almost missed out on the chance to discover my delight in numbers, if not for that one thoughtful moment from my guidance councillor.
Because he was right.
Every theatre should have one of these somewhere.
Trigonometry for rigging?
Electrical load equations?
Metric to Imperial conversions?
It's probably all in here. And in theory, since I understand it, I could work through it.
Plus there's the fact we all have calculators in our pockets.
So yah, just because you might not "get" math, it might just be because they're teaching it to you with the wrong expectations. Scientists are great, but some of us just want to build things.
Oh boy but I sure do hate the way math is taught in schools.
I have never gotten a grade higher than a C in a math class, ever, in my life. One of the big reasons I wasn’t able to finish my degree is that I couldn’t pass college algebra.
Then when I entered the big-girl workforce and had to start doing things like building rafters and wet-batching chemicals it turns out that math is actually hella easy and I’m super good at it.
"And she thought home might not be a place or a human but a life, An emotion. She saw it in the lights of an empty theatre, In the floorboards of a creaky stage and the hills made of lights and shadows, sharp as knives. She dreamt in dimmers, in light cues gently coming up like sunrises of brilliant red and blue and deep purple; In sound cues and the quiet 'go!' followed by the thunder of a blooming flower."
Anonymous