In a sense, the school board president has a point. True, kids nowadays are very smart, they even outsmart their parents. It is not that parents mind at all. On the contrary, parents are generally proud when they talk about their children being computer wizards, excellent students, and the like. I observe, however, that the kids of today are not that really smart. I think, they are just lucky that they live now in this age where everything has taken  a modern trend. Techno-smart or techno-savvy, yes they are. But it is regrettable their knowledge mostly revolve around the ‘shallowness’ of technology.
 

The young ones nowadays tend to forget many things they learn along their course of education. Perhaps this is because of the overwhelming inflow of information right at their fingertips. There is no mastery anymore, so to speak. They receive instruction in school based on the so-called ‘new competencies in learning’.  They do most of their school work with the aid of computers. Given a certain project for instance – they do it in a whiz in their PC’s. There is no challenge at all. Their basic skills are not put much to the test and application because they can do their work in less than half the time needed.

Now, I am not against technology. I admittedly do embrace it, and benefit from it. But I have no worry because I attended school way earlier – and I can proudly claim that my foundation on letters and numbers is well grounded. For one, I learned to compute on my own before knowing how to use the calculator. I have memorized my four basic math operations and can recite them by heart, even in sleep – because I have mastered it long before the advent of computers or adding machines. I have painstakingly known how to dissect a book, movie or play relying purely on my own analytical ability - no matter how limited it may be – at least, it is based on my own insight backed by my reading and study, and not plucked  from some websites.But there is no turning back anymore. To turn back is absurd. What can be done now probably is to restructure the learning and instructional system in schools in a way that it should be made imperative for both modern and traditional approaches to merge.  The children should first be taught how to use their own skills and abilities before allowing them to master the manipulation of computers and other trendy aids or devices.  This way, they can discover what real and pure talents they have, which they can later use and enhance further through the help of tools and devices.