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Do We Still Need to Teach the 3 R’s: Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic? - October 2023

The Ford Files - October 2023
“Do We Still Need to Teach the 3 R’s: Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic?”

Dear Readers, I have often found myself engaged in discussions that question whether our public education system needs to teach basic skills such as math and English composition. On one hand, we have word processing tools for grammar and spell check, as well as calculating devices to do the math. The counterpoint is that we may end up overly dependent on computers and unable to do it ourselves when we do not have access to an app to do it for us. I was reminded of this as I passed by my local highway department and noticed a sign with the word deliveries incorrectly spelled as “deliverys.” I was not a proud resident of Port Crane at that point.

I can think of several examples where this issue has come up in my life:

-       I have been teaching APICS Instructor Development workshops for over 20 years, including Train-the-Trainer, where students perform sample presentations. At one class Norm Heilweil, former APICS instructor for the NYC/Long Island chapter, demonstrated long division. Several of the younger workshop participants did not even know what long division was! Perhaps several readers of this article are now googling long division. 😊

-       When I’m teaching CPIM courses I include the steps to filling in an MRP grid, which illustrates how the software performs five calculations: parent-to-component explosion; gross-to-net requirements; lot sizing; yield factor adjustment; and lead time offsetting. I note that these are all basic math: everything in MRP is addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. I am perplexed by how many students have been working with MRP systems for years or even decades and never knew the math concepts until CPIM class. It is as if they treat a computer like a magic box and just trust whatever numbers it spits out.

-       I’ve taught dozens of Technical Writing workshops for local colleges and/or workforce development agencies. These include a comprehensive team exercise creating a writing sample. Sometimes the classrooms do not include PC’s and the writing sample is by hand. Friends, you would be amazed at how poorly the writing is when the students do not have an editor function to help them out.

-       I taught a Developmental Math course for a SUNY college years ago (note: Developmental Math is the new politically correct name for Remedial Math). The rules for this class are NO calculators, NO smartphones, NO devices whatsoever that perform math. I was teaching concepts that I had learned in elementary school and junior high. One student proclaimed that she learned more about math in one semester than in all her prior years of schooling. I reckon that may have been a compliment to Ford, but instead I read it as an indictment of public education. What the heck happened in grades K-12???

-       A related example is drivers’ dependence on GPS. Sometimes I wonder how we ever got around without it. In my earlier years as a corporate trainer, I often had to stop by gas station/mini marts to get directions, only to have the clerk state: “I’m not good with directions” or, better yet, “I’m not from around here.” (not from around here… how did you find your way to work?)

I’m going to conclude that we need the 3 R’s more than ever. My view is we can appreciate and utilize technology without being too dependent on it. That may reflect my personal bias as I aspire to be a very independent individual.

Parting shot from Port Crane: we somehow got the spelling right (deliveries) on a similar sign. The fact that one sign got it right just made it worse!

Yours in ASCM,

Ford

Ford is here to help. If you have any follow up questions or comments, or if you or your company are facing any unresolved challenges, feel free to drop me a note at [email protected]