Research and Innovation in Mathematics Education is Kaput

We wish we had an ongoing series of unfortunately named centers, because the James J. Kaput Center for Research and Innovation in Mathematics Education at UMass Dartmouth would be a top notch feature. Some could say that it's over before it began, dead in the water, or, quite simply, kaput. But it's not, it's only just begun. From the UMass Dartmouth press release

The goal of the Center is to democratize access to core ideas in mathematics through new theories of teaching and learning and innovative technology, thus enabling children from all backgrounds to learn mathematics in deep and sustaining ways, and positioning them to enjoy lifelong success. The central strategy is to engage students as early as kindergarten in the mathematical concepts that are the foundations of advanced mathematics such as algebra and calculus.

Okay, okay, math might not be the hippest of academic endeavors, but it's useful in everyday life, we'll give it that. It's just plain unfortunate that James J. Kaput had to have the surname Kaput to attach to a center at one of the fine branches of the state's university system. In the press release they shorten the name several ways - both "the Kaput Center" and simply "the Center," the latter is preferable for disambiguation from a center that has actually gone kaput. In an unfortunate ironic twist it's named for James J. Kaput a professor who has passed, but provided significant contributions in the field. Sorry if we're giggling. Might we suggest in the tradition of academic acronyms they try to pronounce JJKCRIME (just kidding, crime?).

When Bostonist looked up "math class" on Flickr to find an image to post here the above came up from Keenan Pepper. It's a fantastic demonstration of how algebraic formulas can be entertaining. Anyone know what's less than, or equal to, in that equation?