# School rant: dont borrow or lend **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 15, 2015, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885 "2015-01-15T13:06:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/21 "2015-01-16T05:36:40Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > I just can’t believe that a user named Urbanredneck missed an opportunity to quote Polonius. I thought it was Hamlet. But then I’m only going off a scene from “Gilligan’s Island”. Dang, someone beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/22 "2015-01-16T05:40:57Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Good lord, I hope the seventh grader isn’t learning fractions in seventh grade. By this point, he should be learning much more advanced concepts that are predicated on an understanding of fractions. If he still doesn’t understand fractions (a third grade concept), he needs some serious remedial work. And if he does understand fractions, requiring him to solve them from scratch each time is needless busywork that will prevent him from focusing on the advanced concepts he should be focused on. Oh he can do fractions just fine. But it is a hassle to wrestle with them when doing word problems and such. Plus what about long division? Or maybe its just been awhile since you were a 7th grader who hated doing homework? Oh and follow up, he got it back today. The other boy was actually waiting at his locker to give it to him. I guess being embarrassed because I called up his father had something to do with it. What I plan on doing is sending a little cheapo calculator (they are as cheap as $1) with my son so if he ever wants to loan one out again, he can give this one which is no loss if it doesn’t come back. ---
**Author:** ![Boogly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Boogly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boogly)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/23 "2015-01-16T06:00:49Z")
Why not buy two cheapos to start with? ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/24 "2015-01-16T06:16:44Z")
> [@Boogly](#): > > Why not buy two cheapos to start with? I probably have 4-5 of them laying around. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/25 "2015-01-16T07:00:16Z")
I remember in seventh grade we had some sort of touchy-feely “hobby” hour and I brought in matchbooks I collected from around the country, and the other students stole a bunch of them. My parents got word of it and called to the teacher, who instead of punishing the other students or canceling this popular activity, or at least making them give them back to me, left it up to me in front of the rest of the class. Of course not wanting to be a snitch, I let it go, but it was kinda unfair to put a 12 year old on the spot like that. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/26 "2015-01-16T13:03:26Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Oh he can do fractions just fine. But it is a hassle to wrestle with them when doing word problems and such. > > Plus what about long division? > > Or maybe its just been awhile since you were a 7th grader who hated doing homework? > > Oh and follow up, he got it back today. The other boy was actually waiting at his locker to give it to him. I guess being embarrassed because I called up his father had something to do with it. > > What I plan on doing is sending a little cheapo calculator (they are as cheap as $1) with my son so if he ever wants to loan one out again, he can give this one which is no loss if it doesn’t come back. I have, over the years, bought 4 tI-84s - yeah, the $100+ ones. I had one, which became my son’s when he got into 8th grade and needed a graphing calculator - in eighth grade. My daughter is accelerated, she could finish two years of college level calc in high school if she chose, so she needed one the same year - when she was in seventh grade. So I got her a new one. Then I missed mine - it sat in my son’s bag. So I decided to buy a new one for him so I could have mine back (are you some sort of geek when you want a graphing calculator at home?). Then this year mine went to a friend of my son’s who’d been managing with cheap calculators until he ran into a brick wall in Algebra II. Nice kid, smart, nice family, we’ve known them since kindergarten, but not a lot of money - so “here, take my used calculator.” Then my son “loaned” out his calculator. And didn’t get it back in time for an important test. Which he failed (although retaking it is possible for half missed points). While he was waiting to get it back, I replaced my missing calculator and he got that one, eventually he got his old one back, and I got that (he took the new cool color version). And, of course, he had to chase the kid he loaned his calculator to, it was a two week “loan.” There is no “cheap calculator” option at this point, unless you are prepared to teach your kid to calculate an R-squared by hand or a best fit regression line through multiple points. And they can do it fast enough to do 5 of them during a half hour quiz. How about p-values during Stats class from a list of numbers. I suspect I’m in for at least one more before college ends. Amazingly, my daughter, the absent minded professor, hasn’t lost hers (knock on wood), which I sort of expect yet. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/27 "2015-01-16T22:23:23Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Oh and follow up, he got it back today. The other boy was actually waiting at his locker to give it to him. I guess being embarrassed because I called up his father had something to do with it. Orrrrrrrrrrr… He would have done the same thing even if you hadn’t called his dad. We did that all the time when I was in middle school – well, we didn’t have lockers, but we’d wait outside or at the other kid’s homeroom door. If I was this kid’s theoretical parent, I’d probably remind the kid to give the calculator back tomorrow, but I’d also mentally file a note that you’re a little… odd. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/28 "2015-01-19T11:26:14Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > Orrrrrrrrrrr… He would have done the same thing even if you hadn’t called his dad. We did that all the time when I was in middle school – well, we didn’t have lockers, but we’d > > wait outside or at the other kid’s homeroom door. > > If I was this kid’s theoretical parent, I’d probably remind the kid to give the calculator back tomorrow, but I’d also mentally file a note that you’re a little… odd. Hmm… Maybe I should have totally stayed out of it. I dont know. Still feel new to this parenting thing. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/29 "2015-01-19T11:55:55Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > What about his ass? Actually, the Bible says you’re allowed to borrow your neighbor’s ass. You’re just not supposed to covet it. (but , ya know…the Bible doesn’t say anything about his wife’s ass) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/30 "2015-01-19T23:36:03Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > so if he ever wants to loan one out again… Tell him not to loan it out. Problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/31 "2015-01-19T23:40:36Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Actually, the Bible says you’re allowed to borrow your neighbor’s ass. > You’re just not supposed to covet it. > > (but , ya know…the Bible doesn’t say anything about his wife’s ass) 🙂 I shall certainly make it a point never to look covetously on my neighbor’s ass, then. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/32 "2015-01-20T00:44:45Z")
people wouldn’t borrow his slide rule. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/33 "2015-01-20T20:59:01Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Then my son “loaned” out his calculator. And didn’t get it back in time for an important test. Which he failed (although retaking it is possible for half missed points). While he was waiting to get it back, I replaced my missing calculator and he got that one, eventually he got his old one back, and I got that (he took the new cool color version). And, of course, he had to chase the kid he loaned his calculator to, it was a two week “loan.” Your son sounds like an idiot. Good on you for putting up with him. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/34 "2015-01-21T22:21:40Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Still feel new to this parenting thing. After 12 something years? Get a grip man, you’re just getting to the good part. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/35 "2015-01-22T01:11:07Z")
Maybe the OP might consider teaching his son about the idea of “security” for a loan. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/36 "2015-01-22T03:28:30Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > What about his ass? I thought it was an **arras** he hid behind. Heh, “behind”. Heh, “arras”. > [@Sitnam](#): > > :dubious: Sounds like you should be pitting the person responsible, your child, who is also not old enough to be responsible. > > “At school, my 18 month old can not stop shitting himself!” No one would ever say that, since “cannot” is all one word. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/37 "2015-01-22T04:38:11Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Why does a seventh grader need a calculator that does fractions? Isn’t he in school to learn how to do it? Huh. I was doing fractions when I was still in the womb. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/38 "2015-01-22T04:44:41Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Tell him not to loan it out. Problem solved. I’m laughing here, but I don’t know if it’s with you or at you… ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/39 "2015-01-22T14:49:32Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > I agree that the advice in the OP is probably wise, but Polonius was pretty clearly meant to be kind of a fatuous windbag who was dispensing simplistic catch phrases out of self-importance. After all, he’s the one who makes the brilliant observation, “Oh I am slain,” when Hamlet kills him. I thought he said “please don’t stab me in the arras.” ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885/40 "2015-01-22T17:57:33Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I bought my son a good calculator for school. One that could do fractions. I warned him “Do NOT lend this out” or you wont get it back. Well yesterday he lent it out and never saw it again. Thats what iPhones are for, use the calculator app, no way he is going to be lending that out. Declan As an aside, one thing the teachers got wrong way back when, we would always have a calculator with us. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-rant-dont-borrow-or-lend/709885.md?page=3)