My friend Mike was shaking his head in disbelief.
My
friend
Mike
was
shaking
his
head
in
disbelief
.
"That young woman who just waited on me," he said, pointing to an employee of the fast food restaurant where we were eating, "had to call someone over to help her count change.
``
That
young
woman
who
just
waited
on
me
,
''
he
said
,
pointing
to
an
employee
of
the
fast
food
restaurant
where
we
were
eating
,
``
had
to
call
someone
over
to
help
her
count
change
.
The cash register showed her I needed 99 cents, but she couldn't figure out how to count out the coins."
The
cash
register
showed
her
I
needed
99
cents
,
but
she
could
n't
figure
out
how
to
count
out
the
coins
.
''
I understood Mike's concern.
I
understood
Mike
's
concern
.
What we have done is to create several generations of individuals most of whom have no idea how to reason; how to do simple math; how to do research; or, finally, how to be creative.
What
we
have
done
is
to
create
several
generations
of
individuals
most
of
whom
have
no
idea
how
to
reason
;
how
to
do
simple
math
;
how
to
do
research
;
or
,
finally
,
how
to
be
creative
.
The reason for this is our overuse of information technology: video games, television, digital watches, calculators, and computers.
The
reason
for
this
is
our
overuse
of
information
technology
:
video
games
,
television
,
digital
watches
,
calculators
,
and
computers
.
Information technology feeds us information without requiring us to think about it and let us perform operations without understanding them.
Information
technology
feeds
us
information
without
requiring
us
to
think
about
it
and
let
us
perform
operations
without
understanding
them
.
It is time we took a hard look at an educational system that only teaches our children how to push buttons.
It
is
time
we
took
a
hard
look
at
an
educational
system
that
only
teaches
our
children
how
to
push
buttons
.
Our kids can't tell time if the clock has hands.
Our
kids
ca
n't
tell
time
if
the
clock
has
hands
.
They can use calculators, but cannot add, subtract, divide, or multiply.
They
can
use
calculators
,
but
can
not
add
,
subtract
,
divide
,
or
multiply
.
Video games have taken the place of active, imaginative play.
Video
games
have
taken
the
place
of
active
,
imaginative
play
.
Although most of them are technically educated, they choose not to read.
Although
most
of
them
are
technically
educated
,
they
choose
not
to
read
.
They are so used to television and movies that they cannot use their imagination to stay interested in a book.
They
are
so
used
to
television
and
movies
that
they
can
not
use
their
imagination
to
stay
interested
in
a
book
.
Therefore, we must do something to help our children.
Therefore
,
we
must
do
something
to
help
our
children
.
If we don't, they will never learn how to solve problems.
If
we
do
n't
,
they
will
never
learn
how
to
solve
problems
.
They will never learn even basic reasoning skills and will certainly not develop creativity.
They
will
never
learn
even
basic
reasoning
skills
and
will
certainly
not
develop
creativity
.
Instead of filling classrooms with electronics, let's concentrate on good old-fashioned literacy--reading books.
Instead
of
filling
classrooms
with
electronics
,
let
's
concentrate
on
good
old-fashioned
literacy
--
reading
books
.
Students must see how things work and how processes lead to results, and they must also stretch their imagination.
Students
must
see
how
things
work
and
how
processes
lead
to
results
,
and
they
must
also
stretch
their
imagination
.
My friend Mike was shaking his head in disbelief. "That young woman who just waited on me," he said, pointing to an employee of the fast food restaurant where we were eating, "had to call someone over to help her count change. The cash register showed her I needed 99 cents, but she couldn't figure out how to count out the coins." I understood Mike's concern. What we have done is to create several generations of individuals most of whom have no idea how to reason; how to do simple math; how to do research; or, finally, how to be creative. The reason for this is our overuse of information technology: video games, television, digital watches, calculators, and computers. Information technology feeds us information without requiring us to think about it and let us perform operations without understanding them.  It is time we took a hard look at an educational system that only teaches our children how to push buttons. Our kids can't tell time if the clock has hands. They can use calculators, but cannot add, subtract, divide, or multiply. Video games have taken the place of active, imaginative play. Although most of them are technically educated, they choose not to read. They are so used to television and movies that they cannot use their imagination to stay interested in a book.  Therefore, we must do something to help our children. If we don't, they will never learn how to solve problems. They will never learn even basic reasoning skills and will certainly not develop creativity. Instead of filling classrooms with electronics, let's concentrate on good old-fashioned literacy--reading books. Students must see how things work and how processes lead to results, and they must also stretch their imagination.