Train up a child …
Out with the Old and in with the New??
No one needs to be told about how rapidly things are changing in our lives! Much of this change can be attributed to the new technology that is constantly becoming available. Recently, a ten-year-old boy talked to me, with apparent fear in his voice, about drones. He was wondering about people looking in his window and seeing him. With his limited amount of knowledge about drones, he was feeling more fear than comfort concerning their use.
There are many who quickly want to abolish what has been done in the past and joyfully embrace every new item that becomes accessible. Others cling stubbornly to the old, fearing what the new is thrusting upon us. Wise folks, on the other hand, will hang on to some of the past and accept the part of the new that is truly beneficial.
Should we be concerned that our educational system is quickly going to the level of dependence on computers that some schools seem to be doing? Recent news of cyber attacks by other countries on our power grids and banks should make us take pause and think seriously about whether we want our children to be totally dependent on technology. Computers serve a wonderful purpose if used correctly, but children need to train their minds to memorize. There are certain basics that all children need irregardless of the fact that they can find dates and other information on the computer. It is the reserve of knowledge in the mind that forms the foundation for decision-making. Mental exercise is important just as physical exercise is important. A child’s mind can become lazy if there is too much dependence on computers and the Internet. On the other hand, why should a child sit and do figuring of numbers over and over when the skill has already been mastered? Why not use a calculator to get the information needed to solve a problem? The determining factor here is the level of skill attained. Is the computer being used as a crutch, or as a tool to facilitate accomplishment? We should maintain enough of the past teaching methods to ensure that our students have basic skills and teach children to use technology as a tool, not the final word. Final decisions should be made by an individual using all the tools and knowledge available.
Some folks stubbornly refuse to accept any new thing. There are actually people who forbid their children to watch any TV! Those same folks would not like to go back to the horse and buggy days! Just as a car can take us to a good place or a bad one, so new inventions can be used for either good or bad. Our chore as parents, grandparents, and teachers is to teach children to use every tool wisely. It is not the invention at fault, but rather the person using that invention who may not be using it wisely.
As for me, I welcome the time when a drone may deliver a pizza to our door, or when we can sit in a car and let it drive itself! A device on my wrist to help me keep track of appointments, etc., is a great idea! We need to pray, however, that we will have the wisdom to pick and choose the good and delete the bad of all that is already here or coming down the pike!