We're studying graphical functions in math. If a function has a lot going for it, you get a combo of stretching/shrinking, moving, flipping, etc. You have to break down each piece to affect the original to get the answer. The whole process sounds lengthy, especially with bigger functions, but it's actually pretty straightforward if you can image well in your mind. In my case, it really doesn't involve paperwork. However, my teacher wants us to "show our work", so we have to make seperate graphs for each step we took to get our final result. That's cool, since I know that in math, you're supposed to do that a lot. It's called "solving analytically".
However, in this one case, it really shouldn't involve having to construct separate graphs, especially when the book doesn't tell us we have to in the instructions. Also, some of these functions can get pretty long, so many steps are required. My teacher's explanation is just that we probably need the practice. Ok, fine.
Despite this, I insisted, and questioned the teacher. He scoffed at me and basically told me to not worry about having to use excessive paper, that I was paying a lot for my education and that a few more dollars wouldn't matter. I replied immediately, "Well, money isn't the issue for me, sir. I'm not struggling. My reasons were more environmental." Then, something very embarrassing happened.
For those that know me, I'm a big fan of trees. Those that know me also know that I'm no tree-hugger. I'm liberal, but not flaming liberal. I'm certainly not a GreenPeace member, nor ever will be. I'm not vegetarian in the least, cause I likes my animals medium-rare. Basically, I'm not a hippy (no offense to the real hippies out there, I'm just using a generalization). Yes, at one time, I was even a member of the Republican Party.
But I am a big fan of trees. Ever since I was little, I've looked at trees just as I look at humans. I don't differentiate between the two in terms of worth, though I know that God (my opinion) put them here for us to use. They are ancient beings worthy of our respect, and if it wasn't for them, we'd have died long ago.
Cutting a tree down is like murder to me, but I'm also Yaqui Indian. When you have to kill, you use as much of the animal as possible, thanking its spirit for its sacrifice. So when I see a tree cut down needlessly, or because it wasn't cosmetic enough, I bawl on the inside and weep a bit on the outside. I do all I can to spare trees an untimely death - buying nothing but recycled paper, making sure I don't waste the real paper I have, always using the recycle bin.
My church, the Methodist church, gives you a packet full of adverts for various commitees as well as resolutions, information, etc. when you attend our larger legislative events. Most people tend to take one look at SOME of those papers, then discard the whole *CENSORED* thing when the event is over. It's something I find aggravating each time I attend, though I will take the packet, since some poor tree had to die to get it to me. Who am I to simply cast away its sacrifice?
You want to know what happened when I said what I said in math? The class laughed at me, and so did the teacher. I was, naturally, infuriated, but bit my tongue. He finally addressed me, still chuckling, and said, "Well if you're so concerned with the environment, you can use recycled paper."
Who says something like that? I continued to bite my tongue, knowing that with a class full of laughing students, I wasn't going to win any moral victories. What I wanted to say was, "Well, begging your pardon sir, but I actually already use recycled paper. Look, I wouldn't dream of telling you how to do your job, as I am the student and you are the teacher. I'm definitely not going to demand that EVERYONE start using recycled paper either.
However, if you were to simply allow us to work the problems out with a minimum of steps (unless the problem says otherwise), we could all save at least 50-100 sheets of paper per class, just on this issue alone. I don't think that's an unreasonable - or laughable - request."
I've never felt more humiliated in all my college years. Not only that, but you'd figure that after seeing the response I got, the closet environmentalists in the class would've approached me afterward and given me some sort of pat on the back, "job well done", etc. No one spoke to me at all after that. It truly appeared that the issue didn't matter, and it certainly didn't matter that their fellow classmate had just been humiliated for trying to do something good for the world we all live in.
I'm not a hippy. I know when I've been put in my place, and I know which battles to fight. It's just a math class, and I'm going to show my work as instructed. I won't forget what happened to me today, though. It's a part of me now, forever.
Maybe now I can understand why environmentalists are so angry all the time. I'm still eating meat, though, and driving my six cylinder car. Sorry, I likes my meat, and I likes my cylinders. However, on this one issue, I'm with you guys. Don't let it go to your heads.
