I was in the grocery store last week, and I was reminded just how dependent we have become on computers in our lives. I’m old enough to remember when a cashier at the grocery store hit keys on a cash register to ring up the cost of the items. Each item was marked with a price rather than a zebra stripe.
\nIf the electricity went out, they “rang” you up by hand, and you went on about your business. These days, if the computer is malfunctioning, or if the electricity goes off, you’re out of luck. No sale. There is nothing they can do to make a sale.<\/p>\n
\nKids who work at McDonald’s press a button with the name of the item you are ordering, and the machine tells them the cost, and the change due. They hand it to you in a wad, rather than counting the change into your hand.
\nThose are two of thousands of examples of how dependent we have become upon computers in our life. I am concerned, VERY concerned, that we have created a generation of kids who will not know how to return to the basics to manage life, if computers should not be available to us.
\nHere’s another “old fogy” thought. We encourage young kids to learn new math where they skip basic steps that were required to achieve answers to math problems. That’s like asking a baby to go from crawling to running, skipping walking.
\nWhat’s happened to the basics? Winton Marsalis was trained in the Classics before he became a famous jazz musician. He learned key signatures and chord progressions before he departed from them. He has an incredible foundation on which to build his art. And it’s that type of foundation this generation seems to be missing.
\nOur children are skipping steps. We are encouraged to make school “fun” for them. Bring in the glitz and ditch the basics. But look at the results. If the electricity goes out, what can they accomplish for themselves? Is it not possible to make school fun without being computer dependent?
\nThose schools which still give a student a foundation in the basics of reading, writing, arithmetic and science are to be praised, because those students MIGHT be able to go on to lead productive lives if computers should suddenly disappear. All it takes is one low level nuclear explosion to put all those electronics out of commission. Yes, probably it would take the populace, too, but those few who are left need to be self sufficient.
\nI’m addicted to my computer. I use it in dozens of ways every day. I produce more information now than I did prior to working on the computer. Probably, my company only needs one clerical person because I can do so much on the computer. But, my training is in basic accounting, using the double entry method. If I had to, I could easily go back to the paper and pencil method, and we would go on.
\nI have probably more than 100 cook books. If I couldn’t do a quick surf on the Internet for a recipe, I could probably find one that might work on my own bookshelves. Baring that, I could go to the library and look one up, or call one of my sisters.
\nI worry that the next generation is loosing the ability to resolve problems. I want to see grade school students who can solve math problems without a calculator, who can spell, and who can write legibly. I want to see students who can create complete sentences without slang. I want to see high school students who graduate with the basics in science, so that they can understand why global warming could be an issue, and why alternative energy sources are important, for other than political reasons.
\nWe need to teach kids to make the best use of computers and electronics, but give them the basics first!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I was in the grocery store last week, and I was reminded just how dependent we have become on computers in our lives. I’m old enough to remember when a cashier at the grocery store hit keys on a cash … Continue reading