Once upon a time, a very responsible mom and a very responsible dad were trying to raise a very irresponsible son and hoping that no one lost their mind in the process!
Chad was in the 7th grade and because of some kind of test scores, he was placed in an advanced algebra class. A requirement for the class was a TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator.
For those who do not know about the TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator, I think they’re the most stolen item in the world! I was a volunteer at the middle school and I knew how often those things were stolen! My thinking was that if the school wanted each kid to have one, they should have provided them . . nailed to a huge board and then glued to a cinder block! But the school didn’t think my idea was a good one (it wasn’t the first or the last idea I had that they didn’t like!) so we spent about $125 on the required calculator and within a few weeks, it had been stolen. This particular one was left in the classroom at lunch and the teacher told the students to leave their stuff in there — he was locking the door. Then he forgot to lock the door so the school replaced that one.
The second one lasted a few months and then it was stolen. Now it was time for a heart to heart talk between Vince and Chad about responsibility. Judy went to the basement to sew because mom doesn’t like when Vince and Chad have man to man talks!
By now, the year was almost over and Chad managed with a plain Jane scientific calculator, which would probably have been fine for the entire year!
In high school, he was in another Algebra class which required a TI-83 plus graphing calculator. As I recall, we got that one on sale and it was around $100. It didn’t make it through the entire semester before it was stolen. Part of that man to man/heart to heart talk Vince and Chad had included this language or something real close – We’ll buy one more but if something happens to that one, you’re on your own! You’ll buy the next one! Understand? Yes, sir!
That one made it as long as it was needed in high school I suppose. At least I know we didn’t buy another one. Chad may have replaced it himself but if he did, I didn’t know about it and since he didn’t ask me for money, I doubt he replaced it.
Now he’s in math class in college and he needs a TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator. Where’s the old one? Hmmmm, Ummmmm, I think Jared has it. Jared lives in Owensboro, Kentucky. We’ve been gone from there for over a year. And, Chad isn’t sure if Jared has it. So, yesterday while in Joplin, Chad bought yet another TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator, which according to my numbers, is the 5th TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator that has been purchased for Chad or on Chad’s behalf.
The questions that keep running through my mind are:
- How did I get through high school and college without ever hearing about a TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator? I do still have my slide rule if that counts.
- How did Vince get through high school, college and two Master’s Degrees without needing a TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator?
- How many TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculators will it take to get Chad from middle school algebra through college graduation?
Before you ask, I do own Texas Instruments stock (TXN) but I think someone may need to be buying more TI products! 🙂