There are certain skills that aren't taught in schools, that parents just handed down to children as they performed those tasks, like reading a map or changing a tire. But now kids don't see their parents do those things, for one reason or another, so they don't learn them, and they don't have to. But is that a good thing? I give my younger daughter a hard time about relying on GPS for navigation, but she manages to find her way around even where there's no wifi, since she didn't listen to me when I told her not to talk to strangers, either. We lament that the younger generation doesn't know how to write a check, but do they really need to?
Considerable has a list of 12 skills that young people no longer learn. I can do all these things, but a couple I just don't do anymore, because it's easier to hand off those tasks to professionals. Whether they actually matter is the real question. Sure, you can get through life without knowing how to sew or read cursive, but if you had those skills, you could have the custom curtains you otherwise couldn't afford, or read your father's old love letters.
(Image credit: Zirguezi)
I can't help not thinking of the post apocalyptic scenarios (which seems more likely every day) when I think of the map, compass, and sewing skills. I can do the map and compass skills and will usually read the direction, copy them down, and memorize/draw the map instead of an app when driving. I think this comes from all my time using paper maps before electronic navigation. I want to learn how to sew though.
The stick shift debate: always wanted to learn stick but haven't. No need unless you can afford a sports car or are a valet that parks cars.
My kids know most of these things.
People should learn most, or all, of these skills.
It took a bit of effort, but I found a stamp. I then had to teach the student how to address an envelope, as he apparently was unfamiliar with the task.
It was an astonishing meeting of two extreme ends of technological competence.