Computer Programming - the new A, B, C's

Back in my school days, you'd get extra points for handwriting. Legibility, in the form of mastery of your handwriting, was valued. That's why fountain pens were in. Even long after ball point pens had taken over the business world, and proved that they were cheaper and easier to write with than fountain pens, the fountain pen was still the hallmark of a classical education.

Reading, writing and basic mathematics. That was the primary goal of elementary school - or at least, it should have been. And high school was supposed to start focusing your thinking on your unique skills. What do you want to become.

In today's world, reading, writing and basic mathematics don't make up a basic education. If that's all you have, then life is definitely going to be very hard. You need to add speaking skills and technology to the mix. Not that you have to be a Toastmaster, or a software genius. But that you have to be able to thoughtfully articulate your thinking by speaking well. And you also need to learn how to use modern tools to do the mundane things in life. You don't need to learn the multiplication tables, you have a smart calculator. You don't even need to know which continent the Yangtze flows through - although in that case, the name might give it away. You have Google for that. And if you feel an itch somewhere on your belly, take a quick photo and send it off to medlabs, for a quick diagnosis as to whether is psoriasis, or you need to go home and take care of last minute things.

That's morbid. But it tells you that the stuff that got us to where we are today, won't get us to where we need to be tomorrow. That path is uncharted, unknown. And if someone tells you what the future holds, take them off your gift list.

While it may not be possible to get rid of writing by hand in schools entirely. At least not now. It's a good idea to lessen the focus that handwriting is a skill that you need to master. Nobody hands in handwritten letters anymore. If you did that on a job application, you shouldn't be surprised if they don't call you for an interview. And all governments require you to fill in forms online. I'm surprised that today (August 2021), the Canadian government still has paper forms for passport applications.

The New A B C's

But back to education. Our current system is modeled on the needs of a world that was undergoing industrialization. We're past that now. And we're into modernization and creativity. We don't need drones any longer. What we want are thinkers and creators. Not doers.So while reading and writing are important, so that you can consume and deliver information - math probably isn't.

But speaking and using technology replace math efficiently. Our children need to be armed with the ability to read effectively, write succinctly, speak eloquently and use digital tools masterfully.

Creativity

This is actually what the use of digital tools is asking us to do. It's not about the tool, it's about how efficient that tool makes you and the products you are able to create with it. The stone knife gave our prehistoric ancestors a huge advantage in being able to modify their world around them. And our huge industrial machines allow us to continue doing that.

So we look to our tools simply as implements. Things we can use to make the world around us much nicer, more comfortable to live in. We don't have to toil and sweat. Those days are past. We can now consume, reflect, socialize and create.