No more numerals!

Fooling around with math seems to be something that has gone on for centuries. Adults with children in school today try to figure out the Common Core method for teaching math. None of it makes any sense and the processes used in calculating are confusing.

I’m not particularly affected by Common Core math. If I need to figure something out involving numbers, I reach for my iPhone. It has a calculator app. I can do the basic stuff — adding, subtracting, making change at the grocery store. I can multiply and do basic division. It’s all I need to know. Anything above that is just showing off.

But one thing has me baffled. Why, after so many centuries, are we still using Roman numerals?

Back in the dark ages when I was in elementary school, teachers tried to explain the process of Roman numerals in math classes. Made about as much sense then as Common Core math does today.

The only use we have for them in modern times seems to be limited to sequencing the Olympics and Super Bowl Games, keeping track of monarchs and popes, and on movie sequels.

They used to be used on clocks — most people can figure out Roman numerals up to 12 — but not so much any more. Digital clocks have Arabic numerals on them, and some watches have little dots and marks where the numbers once were. My watch has a fake stone where each number should be. If it weren’t for digital clocks and watches displaying the numbers, a lot of people wouldn’t be able to tell time.

What’s the point of keeping this antiquated system alive? Doesn’t it make more sense to refer to Queen Elizabeth 2 than Queen Elizabeth II? Or for computer buffs: Queen Elizabeth 2.0?

Pope Francis is the first pope named Francis, and so far no one has stuck a Roman numeral I after his name. He seems to be progressive; maybe he will be not only the first Jesuit pope, and the first Francis, but the first pope to forgo Roman numerals.

It will be a good start.