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@crikey*mate wrote:

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@lurker17260 wrote:

Technology can fail, but basic learned skills are with you a lifetime.

 

I agree icy.  In my working life, in finance and bookkeeping areas, because I had learned basic accounting at school and understand ledgers and debits and credits etc, I had a fair idea what the result should be when I entered data into accounting packages and could recognise pretty quickly when an error had been made.  Others, generally younger people of the computer age, would just bligthly enter debits that should be credits and such like and have no idea what had gone wrong and why they were getting the results they were or even that what they were getting was wrong.

 

There's a lot to be said for understanding the basics of the calculations going on behind your MYOB's or spreadsheets etc

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Agree's wholeheartedly!

 

I can't see why it makes a difference if you print or use cursive, but the skill level for mental maths is horrible! Kids can't even give change without a cash register telling them how much to give, or add up a few grocery items to know if they are in budget etc...

 

When my eldest was in grade 9, he had to do some algebra test and use an Fx82 calculator (calculator skills are actually a part of the curriculum!). He didn't use calculators at all (mainly because he keeps losing them), so didn't on this test.

 

He got all of the answers correct in 20 minutes (they were allowed 40). His teacher failed him. She then called me up to the school horrified that my kid was failing Math. When I pointed out that he could do math, he had gotten every sum correct, her reply was "if he can't use a calculator he will never be able to do calculus"... I responded that Isaac Newton invented calculus and all he had was an abacus.

 

OK, I had the luxury of knowing that my kid could already do calculus and higher orders, so I wasn't concerned, but other parents wouldn't know if they were told the same thing. I was made to buy him another calculator or he wasn't allowed to continue taking that Math Class. Once he moved onto yr 11 and 12 Math C, the calculators were over $200 each.

 

After 3 weeks at uni, he was credited with all 4 years of his math classes for his degree. He still doesn't use a calculator.

 

It's the same for Middle Crikey, he doesn't need the calculator, but they make him use one anyway.... Roll on university....

 

A calculator is a crutch and actually slows down the speed at which computations can be produced and rob the brain the opportunity to practise and strengthen neural pathways.

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Your children are very lucky to have such a natural flair for mathematics, but using their ability as a benchmark is a bit unfair on those who do not have that particular gift.

And if we are not going to teach kids how to use a calculator, why not go the whole hog and do away with computer as educational tools?  After all, following your logic, why  should  a child be' forced' to find information quickly and easily on the internet, when they could spend hours shut up in a library wading through dozens of reference books?