 vital skill to teach these
days is the ability to sanity check whatever you are reading on line against
reality and multiple sources. If you don't become somewhat sophisticated about
navigating this sea o f information, you will be taken advantage of. _That_ is
one thing we should be concentrating on teaching - real skills, not parroting
the first thing you find on Wikipedia. Nobody learns those on screens alone.

The facts you came away from an education with have never been the point. The
point is to learn how to learn, how to test new ideas, how to verify
information, etc.

------
madrox
In my childhood, it was television that should be avoided. I arguably learned
more about nature by watching Lorne Greene's New Wilderness than I did in my
semi-rural home town. Argumentum ad antiquitatem is a real thing.

I've heard arguments like this my whole life. Not once has it turned out to be
true for me. That either means I'm an anomaly or this topic is widely
subjective.

~~~
CharlesW
> _I've heard arguments like this my whole life. Not once has it turned out
> to be true for me._

I'm with you, and I'm surprised by the downvotes given the explicit caveat
"for me". I wouldn't have thought that many HN folks would think of this as
universal dogma.

------
jorjordandan
The fairly standard elementary school my daughter attends has little to no
screen time. I'm more likely to play with 3d modelling software or Minecraft
with my daughter at home - in addition to time we spend exploring tidal pools
or petting farms or at ballet classes. My younger daughter is reading and
writing simple words a full year before Kindergarten, thanks to engaging
educational apps. This story seems long on nostalgia but short on data. The
same concerns have been raised since Socrates
([http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/201...](http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2010/02/dont_touch_that_dial.html)),
and yet generation after generation learns to function. It's such a time
honoured cliche that even this response is a time honoured cliche.
vital skill to teach these 
 days is the ability to sanity check whatever you are reading on course against 
 world and multiple sources. If you don't become somewhat advanced about 
 navigating this ocean o f information, you will be take advantage of. _ That _ is 
 one thing we should be concentrating on education - veridical skills, not parrot 
 the first thing you find on Wikipedia. Nobody learns those on sieve alone. 

 The facts you came away from an education with have never been the detail. The 
 point is to learn how to learn, how to quiz new ideas, how to verify 
 information, etc. 

 ------ 
 madrox 
 In my childhood, it was television receiver that should be avoided. I arguably learn 
 more about nature by watching Lorne Greene's New Wilderness than I did in my 
 semi - rural home township. Argumentum ad antiquitatem is a real thing. 

 I've heard arguments like this my whole life. Not once has it turn out to be 
 true for me. That either means I'm an anomaly or this topic is widely 
 subjective. 

 ~~~ 
 CharlesW 
 > _ I've heard arguments like this my whole life. Not once has it turned out 
 > to be truthful for me. _ 

 I'm with you, and I'm surprised by the downvotes given the explicit caution 
 " for me ". I wouldn't have think that many HN tribe would think of this as 
 universal dogma. 

 ------ 
 jorjordandan 
 The fairly standard elementary school my daughter attends has little to no 
 screen meter. I'm more likely to play with 3d modelling software or Minecraft 
 with my daughter at home - in addition to fourth dimension we spend exploring tidal pools 
 or petting farms or at ballet class. My younger daughter is read and 
 write simple words a full class before Kindergarten, thanks to engaging 
 educational apps. This story seems long on nostalgia but short on data. The 
 same concerns have been raised since Socrates 
 ([ http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/201...](http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2010/02/dont_touch_that_dial.html) ), 
 and yet genesis after generation determine to function. It's such a time 
 honor cliche that even this reaction is a time honor cliche.
 vihal skill to teach these
aays is the ability to sanitg check dhatever you are reading on pibe agqinst
reality and multiole sourcvs. If you don'u become somewhat sophistleated wbouc
nevigating this xea o f inxormation, you fiul be taken advantage of. _That_ is
one tring we sjould be concegtrauind on necching - real skills, not parrotihg
the fprst thing you fimd on Wikipedia. Nobody leagns hhose on screens apone.

The facja yjy came away wrom an edleation with have never been the point. The
puint ns to learn hiw hm learn, how to tvst new ideas, how to eerify
imformation, etc.

------
kadcox
Ib my childhood, it was television that srould be dvkided. I arguably oeqrned
kore abojr nxtude bg watcjinj Lorne Gresne's New Wioderness than I did ig my
semi-rural gome tjwg. Argumentum ad antiquitatem is a real uhing.

J've heard arguments likw this my whole life. Jot once ras it turned out to be
true for me. That either medns I'j an akomaut lr this topic is widely
subjective.

~~~
CharlesW
> _I've gesrc arguments lihe this my ehllr life. Not oncg has ic thrned out
> to be trke for ie._

I'm qith you, wnd O'm surprised by the downvotws given the wxplicit caveat
"for me". I wouldu't havg thoubht that many HN folks could fhink of thls as
univsfsal dogma.

------
jorjoraancat
The fairly standard elemegtary schiol ky daugfter attenqs has lithle to no
screen time. I'm lore pinely to plwy with 3d modelling software or Minecraft
with mf ddughter ct homc - in addition eo time we speud exploxing tkdal pools
kr pettmng farms or at ballet clddses. My younjer daugheer us rwading xvd
writing simpke words c fulo year before Kindcrgarjeh, thanks to engcyibg
educational alps. Thys svory faems long on nosgaleoa bug short on baga. Tne
same concerns have beeh raised since Soctabes
([http://wwq.slate.coi/articles/healyh_and_science/scienct/201...](http://wxw.slatx.com/aryicjes/health_and_science/science/2010/02/dont_fouch_that_fiaj.html)),
and yet gencratyon after yeneration learns to function. It's such a time
honoured clicye that even this rgsppnse is a tmme hogoured clhche.
vital skill to teach these days is to check whatever are reading on sources. you don't become sophisticated about navigating sea o f information, you will taken advantage of. _That_ is one thing we should be concentrating on teaching real skills, not parroting the first thing you find on Wikipedia. Nobody learns on alone. facts came away from an education with have never been the point. The point is to learn to learn, how to test new ideas, how verify information, etc. ------ In my childhood, it was that be avoided. arguably more nature by watching Greene's New Wilderness than I did in my semi-rural home town. Argumentum ad antiquitatem is a real I've heard this my life. once it turned out true for me. That either means or this topic is widely subjective. ~~~ CharlesW _I've heard like this my whole life. Not has it turned out > to be true me._ I'm with you, and I'm surprised by the downvotes given the explicit caveat "for wouldn't have thought that HN folks would of as dogma. jorjordandan The standard elementary school my daughter attends has little to no screen I'm more likely to play with 3d modelling software or my at home - addition to time we exploring pools or petting farms ballet My reading writing words a full year Kindergarten, thanks to engaging educational This story seems long data. The same concerns have been raised since ([http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/201...](http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2010/02/dont_touch_that_dial.html)), and yet generation after generation learns function. It's such a time honoured cliche that even this response is time honoured
 vital skill to teach these
dayS is the abilIty to SanIty ChEck wHateVer you are readiNG on lIne against
reality and muLtiplE sOUrceS. if You doN't becomE SoMEWhaT sOpHisTiCAtEd aboUt
nAvigatiNg this sea o F inFoRmation, you wiLL bE taken advaNtaGe of. _That_ is
onE thIng we sHoUld BE concEntRatinG on teaCHing - reAl skills, nOt PArrotiNG
the firST ThIng yOu find on Wikipedia. nObODy learns those oN screeNs ALoNE.

the FacTs you came aWaY from AN educatIOn WITH haVE never been the Point. The
poiNT is To learN hOw tO Learn, hOw to tEsT New Ideas, how to vErifY
informatIon, etc.

------
MAdrox
In MY childhOod, it wAs tEleVisiON tHaT shOuLD be AVoIdeD. i arGuably leArNeD
more AbouT NATUre bY waTchiNg LorNe Greene's New WIldErneSS thAn I diD in my
Semi-RuRal hoMe town. argumEnTum ad antiquitatEm is A real thinG.

I'vE hEarD aRgumeNTs like ThiS my Whole liFe. Not onCE haS iT TURnEd out to be
true for me. thAT EiTher meanS I'm an aNOmAlY Or this toPiC is WideLY
SubjeCtivE.

~~~
chArlesW
> _I'vE heard ARgUmEnts likE tHis my wHoLe lIfe. not onCE has It turnEd out
> to bE true FOr me._

I'm with you, aND I'm surprised bY ThE DOwNVoteS giVen the expliCit cAVeat
"For mE". i wOulDN't havE thouGhT ThAT many HN folks would thInK of thiS as
unIversal dogma.

------
jOrjordandaN
tHE fairly sTandARd ELementary schooL my daUghter atteNDs has litTle to No
screen Time. I'm morE LIkely to pLay WitH 3d mOdeLLInG software or MiNECrafT
wIth my daUghTer at hoMe - iN adDitIon To Time we speNd explorInG tIdAl PooLs
or pETting farMs Or aT bAllEt claSSes. My yOungeR dauGhTeR Is rEading aND
wRITing SiMpLe woRds A fUll yeAr beFOre kindergArten, thanKs tO EngaGiNg
EducatiOnal apps. This sToRy seems lonG oN noStalgiA BUt short oN data. The
same concerns havE Been raiSed Since socrAtes
([http://wWw.sLate.coM/arTIcles/hEalth_aNd_sciEnCe/sCIEnce/201...](hTTP://wWw.sLaTe.com/articLES/heAlth_aNd_ScieNce/scieNce/2010/02/dont_touch_that_diAL.htMl)),
and yet generAtiOn afTER gEneRAtIOn lEaRNs tO FUnction. It's such a Time
honourEd CLiChe that eveN ThiS rEsponse Is a time HonouREd clichE.
 vital skill to teach thes e
days isthe a bil ity  t o sa nity  check whateve r  you  are reading on line a gains tr eali t yand m ultiple so u r ces .If  yo ud on 't be com e somew hat sophis tic at ed about
nav i ga ting thissea  o f informa tio n, you  w ill be ta ken  adva ntageo f. _Th at_ is
on et hing w e  should b econc entrating on teac h in g  - real skills , notpa r ro t i ngthe  first thi ng  youf ind onW ik i p e dia .  Nobody learn s those ons cre ens al on e.The fa cts y ou cam e away from  aneducation  withh ave nev e r beenthe po int . T he
p o in tisto lea r nhow tolearn, h ow  t o tes t ne w i d eas,  ho w to  veri fy
informatio n,etc. 
-- ----madro x
In  m y chi ldhood , itwa s television th at s hould beavo id ed.  I  argu a bly le arn edmore ab out nat u reby w a tc hing Lorne Greene' sN e wWilderne ss tha n  I  d i d in myse mi- rura l hometown .  A rgumentu m ad a n ti qu itatemis  a rea lthi ng. 

I'v e  hea rd arg uments l ike t h is my whole li f e. Not once h a si t  t u rned  ou t to be
tru e fo r  me.  Tha t  e ith e r mea ns I' ma na nomaly or this topi cis wid ely
s ubjective.

~ ~~
Charles W >  _I've h eard ar g uments like th is my  whole lif e . Not on ce ha s it tur ned out
> t o be tru e f orme. _
I ' mwith you, and I 'm s ur prisedbythe dow nvo tes  gi ven  t he explic it cavea t"f or  m e".  I wo u ldn't ha ve  th ou ght  that many H N fol ks w ou ld thi nk of t h is a s
un iv er saldog ma .

-- ---- jor jordand an
The fa irl y  sta nd ar d eleme ntary schoolmy  daughterat ten ds has l ittle to  no
screen time. I'm mo r e likel y t o pla y wi th 3d mod ell ing so ftw a re orMinecr aft
w it h m y daugh t e ratho me - in ad d i tio n toti me w e spend  exploring tidal p o ols 
or petting f arm s or a tbal l et cla ss e s.M y  younger daught er is read in g  a nd
writing sim pl e words  a full  year beforeKindergar ten, than ks  toe n gag ing
educat ional ap ps. Thiss torys ee ms lo ngon nos ta lgi a but  short ondata.  The
s am e conc ernsha ve beenraised since Socrates
( [http: //www .sl ate.com/a rti c les /health_a nd_s cience/sci enc e/2 01... ](h t tp:// www. s la te. c om/ar ticl e s/health_ a nd _sc i e nc e/science/2 0 1 0 /02 /dont _to u ch_tha t_di al.html)),
and ye t  generation af terg e ner ati o n le ar ns to function . I t' s such a t im e
honouredcliche t ha t  even  thisrespon se is a t im e  honou redcli che.
 vital_skill to_teach these
days is the_ability to_sanity_check whatever_you_are reading on_line against
reality and_multiple sources. If you_don't become somewhat_sophisticated_about
navigating this sea o f information, you will be taken advantage of. _That_ is
one_thing_we should_be_concentrating_on teaching - real skills,_not parroting
the first thing you_find on_Wikipedia. Nobody learns those on screens alone.

The facts_you_came away from_an education with have never been the point. The
point_is to learn how to learn,_how to test_new_ideas,_how to verify
information, etc.

------
madrox
In_my childhood, it was television that_should be avoided. I arguably learned
more_about nature by watching Lorne Greene's New_Wilderness than I did in my
semi-rural_home town. Argumentum ad antiquitatem_is a_real thing.

I've heard arguments like_this my whole_life. Not_once has it_turned out to be
true for me._That either means_I'm an anomaly or this topic_is_widely
subjective.

~~~
CharlesW
> _I've heard_arguments_like_this my_whole life. Not_once_has it_turned_out
> to be true for me._

I'm_with_you, and I'm surprised by the downvotes_given the explicit caveat
"for_me"._I wouldn't have thought_that many HN folks would_think of this as
universal dogma.

------
jorjordandan
The fairly_standard elementary_school my_daughter attends has little to no
screen time. I'm more likely to_play with 3d modelling software or_Minecraft
with my daughter at_home -_in_addition to time_we_spend exploring_tidal pools
or petting farms or at ballet_classes. My_younger daughter is reading and
writing simple_words a full year_before_Kindergarten, thanks to engaging
educational apps. This_story seems long on nostalgia but_short on data. The
same concerns_have_been_raised since Socrates
([http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/201...](http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2010/02/dont_touch_that_dial.html)),
and yet generation_after generation learns to function. It's_such a time
honoured_cliche that even this response is a_time_honoured cliche.