Low Wattage’s comment on his post ‘What does a redneck do with a golf cart’ about the value of learning to play golf, reminded me of an article in yesterday’s DT that only one in five children can tie a reef knot.
The article laments the lack of certain skills, such as tying reef knots and mending bicycle punctures, and claims that acquiring these skills is imperative for ‘later life’.
I can tie a reef knot, cook a meal, use a compass and, whatever Bearsy says, I can also read a map – but I’ve never needed to mend a bicycle puncture (I do know the theory!), never had to erect a tent (the thought of camping sends me into a panic!) and never climbed a tree in my life…
It strikes me that a lot of skills that are seen as ‘absolutely essential’ for later life are probably not necessary. The most important thing we need to teach our young is how to find the information they want when they want it. And that, according to this article, is precisely what the youngsters, with their ability to ’embrace the new technology’ are able to do.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Like reading about the growth of Catholicism in Ireland? 😀 😀
I couldn’t agree more, however, with a hint of warning. Today’s kids may be able to look things up, but they aren’t taught about validating the source. They seem to assume everything they read on the ‘net is true and the current educators don’t seen to encourage diversification of study and challenging what they read. I recall a history lesson aged 11 in my first year of Grammar School teaching us all about Primary and Secondary sources, and I remember it to this day!
For the record, I can tie a reef knot but have never needed to, I can change a puncture, well I could 20 years ago, love reading maps for pleasure, could put up a old canvas tent but not one of the modern ones and love climbing trees even aged 38! I only know a couple of constellations though 😦
I fully agree with your comment about validating the source. I recall a huge argument on “The Other Side” about the spelling of ‘idiocy’. The person concerned insisted that, since he’d found it spelled ‘idiosy’ on the internet it must be right!
I did notice that no one in that article seemed to think it important to learn how to stitch a button on!
I can tie a knot, balance a budget, read maps, change tyres,start a fire, write in cursive, do basic home repairs, arrange flowers, and cook gourmet meals with only a few quid. I can also live just fine when electricity goes out — I have candles, oil lamps, and a stack of books to read. What terrifies me is just how helpless my generation is, how they cannot function without technology.
Christopher
I get withdrawal symptoms without access to my computer… 🙂
I tied a reef knot just yesterday.
One of the girls was knitting and needed a new ball tied to her row so that she could continue 😉
Embracing technology is worth diddly squat if you can’t swim when the boat goes down!
Sometimes in life there really isn’t time to ask a little screen what and how to do it.
I would have thought it essential to know how to do a lot of things without electrical power and electronics.
Not a lot of guarantees of how long first world living standards will last the way things are going.
A friend of mine is a successful veterinary, every year he takes two weeks off, his wife drops him at the edge of a bayou with the clothes he stands up in, a bow and arrow, a bowie knife and a bag of salt.. She collects him at the same place two weeks later, fit and tanned. I rather suspect the water moccasins are as afraid of him as were the Vietcong in the past. Such are the skills that make the difference to living or dying in a tight spot, not tapping on a bloody keyboard.
How can you not know how to tie a reef knot?
While I agree that
‘The most important thing we need to teach our young is how to find the information they want when they want it.’- there is no real substitute for learning the practical skills, such as cooking – that judgement of when something is ready, understanding how to control the fierceness of the flame, etc – difficult to pick that up from a book or ‘tinternet.
In addition to that the teaching of the skills is an important part of parenting.
I taught all my children all of that stuff, too. There’s an old axiom in the Army; ‘ At some point, you’re going to be working with a wet map and the stub of a pencil…’
My grandmother and father taught me to cook – very useful when one is married to an economic historian. 🙄
Alas, the various countryman skills I learnt from aged rellies in deepest, darkest Sussex have been of little practical application as an urban-dwelling systems analyst.
However, I challenge anyone to learn a musical instrument without putting in the practical hands-on hours, weeks and months. 😀