The Human Calculator

Math is one of those subjects that you either loved or hated. Some try to avoid it all together, with modern technology. But students in Herkimer County were astonished by a different type of calculator today, the human calculator. What has these fourth and fifth graders so excited? The last thing you may have guessed is math. But this isn't your typical school field trip, these students got the chance to experience the human calculator, Scott Flansburg. "To have a moment with them where they have a positive experience with numbers and feel like maybe I can do this is just so unbelievably rewarding but it's more humbling because you can see the kids reaction. It keeps driving me, it's like adrenaline, I can't wait for the next show." Students experienced a different side of math and even the ones that enjoy the subject learned something new. "I've always like math and I learned an amazing way to do it in my head instead of taking time and doing it on paper. It's so much easier to just do it in your head." The human calculator has traveled the world educating and entertaining people for more than twenty years. But he is proud to originally be from Herkimer. "It really hit me when I got here how emotional I was going to be today and how much it meant to me more than any other show I've probably done to make sure I reach these kids because I was one of these kids in that room, in that town, many years ago. That really hits you hard when you realize the things you say today can make a difference in these kid's lives forever" And just in case you're wondering the human calculator does have a favorite number, it's nine.