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These did not look like numbers to me... |
As an adult, my respect for Roman numerals does not come from their functional usage, but simply from the process of learning itself. As I struggled to work with these rule-breaking "numbers," I could grasp just a little bit better the conceptual nature of math underlying the mechanics of it. Through Roman numerals, I saw other ways to accomplish the same purposes. And I began to realize that even something so foundational as a numbering system had been developed over time. School was not just about memorizing stuff and figuring out how to follow step-by-step instructions; sometimes it is about creating something new or re-creating it better. It is about learning to think more thoroughly and more flexibly. And it is not just acceptable to discover others' perspectives, but a desirable skill.
I still don't see the point of actually using Roman numerals in everyday life, but from what I discovered in the process, I'd say it was good use of class time.
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