To end the discussion, each country has their different way of stating things. Once everyone realizes that, maybe people will stop arguing about which pronunciation is correct. And yes, I know what you all were talking about. Please do not take this comment the wrong way.

what a bitch

Remember... if you can't do, then teach.

Would you rather a) be on a roof, enjoying fresh air, feeling satisfied with the tangible fruits of a labour that benefits your fellow citizens b) be cooped up in a stale office, hunched over a computer crunching numbers all day, the monotony only broken by jargon-filled meetings about more numbers

It was conversation on the origin of the phrase "math" than any dig at particular nation. I don't think any of it could have been interpreted as being aggressive.

Nobody tells you that option b is sadly what you're likely to end up doing if you get one of the much-vaunted "white collar" jobs that you need to be good at maths to do.

That's a horrible thing for a teacher to say. For one thing there is no shame in doing physical work like carpentry and for another he probably makes a lot more than she does!! She's just pissed that she's a math teacher and probably gets no respect for the kids in her classes. I would rather be outside working than stuck in high school hell for the rest of my life any day!

My friends dad is a roofer, and he has it made! He makes a ton of money and sets his own hours. My friend works for him in the summer and loves it- great workout, keeps you in shape, you're outside all day & get a good tan! teachers get shitty pay, homework for the rest of their life & asshole kids

I think she's saying being a construction worker is one of the low jobs a person can have. My parents were excellent students, and the lowest grades they ever got were Bs. They're both Phd Scientists to this day, I don't know how much my dad makes but my mom makes $800 an hour... maybe your teachers right to some extent :P

Don't worry, you live in australia. Even the most prestigious careers you can get from learning there isn't even fit to cater the gas-jockeys of the rest of the world. Not like you're gonna succeed or anything.