A Mini-Rant on the Dumbing of America
This morning I stopped at a coffee shop on the way to my office. The usual order, large dark roast to-go with only a little room for cream. Two young men were working the counter — about college age — one at the counter, and the other at the drive through window.
My guy said, “$2.19 please.” I handed him a five, upon which he he hit a register button and then froze, puzzled. He called the other guy over and mumbled something about his predicament.
Guy #2 pressed what I suspect was the electronic equivalent of a no-sale button and the drawer popped out. Then came the punchline: ”That happens sometimes. Just use a calculator.”
Seriously? Never mind that as I handed him the five, in my head I already automatically knew I was getting $2.81 back.
When I was in third grade an important part of the curriculum was teaching us to count change. I can recite the exercise for this transaction almost from rote: “$2.19. $2.20, $2.25, $2.50, $$2.75, $3, $4, $5.”
“Just use a calculator.” Is elementary education so focused on glop today that its exports cannot do simple three digit subtraction in their heads? Is the basic exercise of counting change from a monetary transaction considered so arcane that we’d prefer people to go into gridlock if their electronic crutches malfunction?
Sadly, I think the answer is, yes.
