> “Oh we don’t actually apply paint until high school,” I was told by the students. ... “So your students don’t actually do any painting?” I asked. “Well, nex

> “Oh we don’t actually apply paint until high school,” I was told by the students. ... “So your students don’t actually do any painting?” I asked. “Well, next year they take Pre Paint-by-Numbers. That prepares them for the main Paint-by-Numbers sequence in high school. This was worth a chuckle. I recall taking pre-calculus/calculus in high school from a particularly passionate teacher. He really enjoyed his job and I felt like I got a greater appreciation for mathematics from his teaching. He did live graphing of equations with a then-novel overhead-transparency peripheral display for his computer. He included lots of practical engineering applications. After reflecting on this article I wonder if he were unconstrained in the curriculum whether he would've been yet more inspiring still.