Our
View: Using calculator shortcut cuts
short education
It
has become a cliche phrase every parent
uses when describing the hardships he
or she endured as children. It starts
with, “When I was your age.”
It is a phrase nearly everyone has heard several times throughout adolescence.
Whether about having to walk five miles to school in the snow, using rocks
and sticks for toys or not having the technological tools modern children have,
adults never seem to miss an opportunity to let younger generations know how
easy they have it.
But are all these advances helping children become more intelligent adults?
Many of these developments are huge aids in bettering human existence, but
one device in particular has become a hindrance for students who are learning
rudimentary math.
The calculator is a recent gizmo that was unaffordable for most students 30
years ago. Recently, it has become a commonplace household item. Nearly everyone
owns one.
Now the calculator has become the universal instrument in solving even the
simplest of calculations so children are not developing necessary skills. Children
learn the benefits of using calculators, and consequently are not motivated
to learn math. Children rely on the fact they can use their calculator to solve
problems, rather than using their own abilities. As a result, younger generations
are struggling with solving what should be easy math problems.
Math is an essential part of adult life. It is unavoidable. The supermarket,
the bank and even buying furniture require math. Not only does math help people
directly with problem-solving skills, but learning math also helps people approach
difficult tasks with greater ease.
For example, people proficient in math are more capable of addressing problems
that deal with space and volume. Baby Boomers were forced to solve complicated
mathematical equations without the assistance of calculators. Many now have
a solid mastery of simple mathematical equations because less complicated equations
were reinforced through repetition.
The calculator can be extremely advantageous for students learning to solve
complicated, lengthy equations. However, allowing children to use calculators
is absurd. Many young children are still grappling with fundamental mathematical
concepts and should have these ideas cemented in before learning to use a calculator.
Other aspects of school are salient in creating an educated person; math is
the only subject that has been invaded by our perpetual desire to make life
easier. Other courses of study have gadgets designed to assist students, like
the electronic dictionary and the microscope, but the calculator is the only
one detrimental to comprehension of subject matter.
Cal State Long Beach students have the potential to change this alarming trend.
Our generation will be responsible for the education of future generations.
It is extremely disturbing to think that a growing proportion of children may
not be able to utilize numbers without the assistance of number-crunching machines.
By becoming heavily reliant on technology to solve problems, children are not
only robbed of the knowledge and familiarity with numbers that comes from having
math skills, but are also denied the many capabilities math creates in every
aspect of daily life.
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