The question is: (Page 2): esp since they aren't taught to write any more.

dragonswing Loc: Pa

Popeye wrote:

Having dealt with some of the local high school students, dumbing down is where we are headed/

esp since they aren't taught to write any more.

jrharton Loc: Grand Prairie, TX

I used to be able to dial a phone number on a rotary phone, all my friends. But now if i cannot just press a button, I would never be able to talk to anyone. I am amazed that every kid in grade school has a calculator, to learn the basics of math.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

jrharton wrote:

I used to be able to dial a phone number on a rotary phone, all my friends. But now if i cannot just press a button, I would never be able to talk to anyone. I am amazed that every kid in grade school has a calculator, to learn the basics of math.

I was waiting for more responses before I replied but I could not help myself. You make a valid point but the problems are... When I go to McDonald's the cashier cannot even make change without being told how much to give back. They cannot think or analyze for themselves. More to come later. Thank you all.

jamer Loc: PA

While I agree the access to information is without question, just go to any check out line and see if anyone can actually make change anymore without the aid of the computer.

One Rude Dawg Loc: Athol, ID

Popeye wrote:

Having dealt with some of the local high school students, dumbing down is where we are headed/

tbpmusic Loc: LaPorte, Indiana

jrharton wrote:

I used to be able to dial a phone number on a rotary phone, all my friends. But now if i cannot just press a button, I would never be able to talk to anyone. I am amazed that every kid in grade school has a calculator, to learn the basics of math.

When I went through college (chemistry degree), the first calculators were just beginning to appear.
$150-200 clams ( a LOT of money back then) for one with capabilities you can get for a dollar now.
Since very few students had one, we were restricted to the use of a slide rule for exams, etc.
Remember slide rules? I still have one, and even remember how to use it!!

jrharton Loc: Grand Prairie, TX

Slip Sticks, those were the days!

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

jamer wrote:

While I agree the access to information is without question, just go to any check out line and see if anyone can actually make change anymore without the aid of the computer.

What really allows someone to make changes is having lots of money. In that case you never have to dirty your hands by touching a computer.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

tbpmusic wrote:

When I went through college (chemistry degree), the first calculators were just beginning to appear.
$150-200 clams ( a LOT of money back then) for one with capabilities you can get for a dollar now.
Since very few students had one, we were restricted to the use of a slide rule for exams, etc.
Remember slide rules? I still have one, and even remember how to use it!!

Me, too!

jrharton Loc: Grand Prairie, TX

nice

dragonswing Loc: Pa

tbpmusic wrote:

When I went through college (chemistry degree), the first calculators were just beginning to appear.
$150-200 clams ( a LOT of money back then) for one with capabilities you can get for a dollar now.
Since very few students had one, we were restricted to the use of a slide rule for exams, etc.
Remember slide rules? I still have one, and even remember how to use it!!

I remember asking my mother to get me a calculator for chemistry class too. She eventually gave in but refused to spend the extra $60 to get the square root function button.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

But did you turn it upside down to make rude words?

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

tbpmusic wrote:

When I went through college (chemistry degree), the first calculators were just beginning to appear.
$150-200 clams ( a LOT of money back then) for one with capabilities you can get for a dollar now.
Since very few students had one, we were restricted to the use of a slide rule for exams, etc.
Remember slide rules? I still have one, and even remember how to use it!!

I still have one of those $200 calculators that sits on my desk and I do use it from time to time.

I also have a couple nice slide rules - but they are somewhere out in my garage. I believe I still know how to use one but I've not had any practice with them for a very long time.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

tbpmusic wrote:

When I went through college (chemistry degree), the first calculators were just beginning to appear.
$150-200 clams ( a LOT of money back then) for one with capabilities you can get for a dollar now.
Since very few students had one, we were restricted to the use of a slide rule for exams, etc.
Remember slide rules? I still have one, and even remember how to use it!!

How many of us had "calibrated eyelashes"?

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

I don't think it makes our kids any dumber. But their not aware of what is going on around them. Every where you look they got their nose in their I phone. A while back a young girl walked off the platform and onto the tracks at the train station. A man pulled her up just before the train came in.