It Doesn't Matter That I Took Calculus in High School....

Saturday I found myself dodging raindrops to gather rations for my family's impending visit on Sunday. It was not a fancy ordeal - simply a cook-out with all the fixin's. While I had already loaded my truck with the oversized goodness of BJs, I found myself with a full cart at the local grocery store, Stop and Shop. Coming down the last frozen food aisle, I spied the Dunkin Donuts inside this particular store and thought, "Hey, I want iced coffee. Hey, DH will want iced coffee. And HEY I have a coupon - SCORE!"

Trot over to the counter, present the clerk with 2 coupons that would allow me to purchase a MEDIUM ICED COFFEE for $1.29 instead of the regular $2.09 - a deal, no? I cheerily tell her, 2 iced coffees regular please! I hand her the coupons.

"Uhhhhh, you can only use one, per visit."

"Are you going to make me come back for the other? Can't you just ring them separately? I mean, it doesn't say one per day..."

"Yeah, it's just that I could get in trouble - like I did today when I brought my purse behind the counter."

(Thinking this is a weird conversation - but WHATEVER.)

"Ok, well I don't want you to get in trouble - so I'll just use 1 coupon, ok?"

"No, no - it's ok - I'll ring them in different orders." (Doesn't that mean the same as separately???)

Rings in 1 medium iced coffee = $2.09 + tax = $2.19

She is STARING at the register. Clearly they do not have a BUTTON for the coupon. She yells in back for a calculator. Comes back with one and is really stumped.

"All you have to do is take $2.19 and minus $1.29 and find the difference."

(Staring at me like I have 9 heads) "What?! I can't have tax."

"Ok, then $2.09 - $1.29 is what ....80¢ right? There all set."

(clearly frazzled) "NOOOOOO it has to ADD UP TO $1.29!!!!"

"Yeahhhhhhhhh if you minus the 80¢ from $2.09 - you get $1.29....." (Holy crap, really??? REALLLLLLLYYY???)

"What?? - tell me again....(does the whole thing on the calculator under my direction - HUGE SMILE"

"What are you, like a Math Teacher or something?!"

"uhhh, no."

Proceeds to ring the next order - has completely forgotten the entire process and I have to tell her step by step AGAIN.

"OK - here's the money - thanks."

"Seriously, are you like a Math Teacher??? Cuz this happens ALL THE TIME and we should have your number on SPEED DIAL."

"No, NOT a Math Teacher. I just think that this NEW MATH screwed all of you up."



Ok, Seriously?? When it is ok to pass kids through school who so obviously have no basic skill sets? They can't add or subtract without guidance or the cash register with pictures and buttons to do it for them. When did this become ok to us?

I feel sorry for these kids - they are on the fast track to minimum wage and a good possibility of being taken advantage of simply because they wouldn't know the difference. They can text message with their eyes closed, download music and pay bills online - but can't make change. Unbelievable. Maybe I should have left her my number......