The new “Common Core” math curricula are driving one parent crazy. Attempting to improve the way arithmetic is taught, US educators are using systems that are completely foreign to parents who might try to help their struggling kids on homework assignments. This predictably leads to frustration as it did for Douglass Hermann, who was at a complete loss when his son came to him for homework help. In sarcastic retaliation, he submitted a check for payment to the school district with the AMOUNT box occupied by a cryptic-looking grid, an arithmetic tool taught in Common Core, instead of more traditional numerals.