3rd grade teaching how to "Google" to students.......
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17797)
United States
September 5, 2008 9:16pm CST
So I was reading the stuff sent home with my 3rd grade grand daughter from her teacher and the course of this year and what they will be doing and all that.
So at age 8/9, this year they will be taught/required to learn (among regular education things like math) typing, how to "Google" and how to use Power Point. I was shocked! They are only 8 years old! Where is their childhood going?! I know that these things are a way of life, but not theirs yet! Come teen years and after, okay, but 8 years old? Why do they need to know Power Point and why do they need to know how to "Google"? They are 8 years old!!!! And are their little fingers even able to reach the keys properly to type properly? I know my GD's fingers aren't. She has some games on my PC and I have watched her and she couldn't type properly - her fingers are not long enough. All it will do is teach them how to type wrong so in the future they'll have problems typing properly.
And "Google"? I know it can be a helpful thing, but with all the crap available to "google", I think it should be a parents choice as to if they want their 8 yo to know how to "google" giving the child the ability and knowledge to find all kinds of harmful things. Yeah, parents should/can have control over what their kids do on the PC but if the teacher said they could do it and parents say no... who'd the child going to listent o?
And Power Point? They need to know at age 8, how to create a visual presentation? They can't even multiple double digits, but they can create a nice visual presentation of something -
I am sorry but I just think this is to much to soon. SOciety is taking away a child's childhood and they are missing out on so much these days because of that. I know times have changed, but kids haven't - they deserve their childhood.
What's your thoughts?
3 people like this
5 responses
@Vladilyich1 (1454)
• Canada
6 Sep 08
I hate to tell you, my youngest son (now 17) TAUGHT HIMSELF PowerPoint at that age and turned in his science project that year in PP. Children today view the computer and Office applications like we viewed pencils. For Christmas when he was 7, he sat on Santa's lap at the mall and asked for typing software. There was a VERY startled Santa that year.
He got the software and could touch type at 35 wpm by the time he was 9.
2 people like this
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
7 Sep 08
there are plenty of ways to be creative with a PC. I think Vlad's son's PP project was a great way for the boy to be creative. Cutting out of magazines? Why not teach them to design their own graphics, and research material, instead of just cutting and pasting someone else's stuff? As a kid I always hated what was "normal" for my age, at that time. I was a lot like vlad's son in what I wanted to do, and I am now making a career out of my computer work, as I'm sure his son will do some day.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
7 Sep 08
Cause the PC is doing all the creative work and not the child. Yes, they can be creative with PC, but it is mostly done for them. doing it by hand makes them become more creative and can actually say they did it themselves. I just think at 8 years old, they should be encouraged to do it themselves instead of letting the computer do it for them.
@bfarrier1 (2082)
• United States
8 Sep 08
I agree with you I guess it is the grandma in us but I think they try teaching things to early,I dont even know Power Point not that I want to learn it but isnt that for like high school students.Seems to me that everyone wants kids to grow up way to fast these days. They deserve to have a childhood no matter how fast the world is changing. You have a great night.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
8 Sep 08
You're singing my song! Yes, they are making them grow up to fast. And yes, they deserve a childhood no matter how fast the world is changing. I look back at my childhood and my kids childhood and now see my grand daughters childhood and am really sad that my 2 GD's won't have what I had. I work hard to do things that I did as a kid with them and they just love it!! Some of their favorite things to do is PlayDoh, picking up rolie polie bugs on our nature walk to find unusual things in nature and even catching butterflies and lady bugs. They both have lots of new age toys, but the oldest would rather have scissors, paper, glue stick and some crayons (not markers!) and create with her imagination! And they both love to play school! So many things the kids are missing out on today just to have a fun childhood. I know sitting in front of hte PC these days is considered "good childhood" but there is just so much more out there that they can have fun doing and always remember it. I remember making things for my mom, I remember getting things my kids made for me, I currently get things my GD's make for me....how many computer kids Mom's get those things?
1 person likes this
@bfarrier1 (2082)
• United States
8 Sep 08
The best kind of gift I can get or those that was made with the imagination and I always treasure every thing and put it all in their own special boxes so they can look at them when they are grown. I dont think that kids should sit at computers all the time,go outside and get some fresh air,my favorite game to play with my grandkids is ring around the rosie the first time we played they had a great time and even told me this is better than being inside. Thanks for the best response.Our grandkids will know the old way of life because we are teaching it to them. Have a great night.
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
6 Sep 08
I think it's wonderful that they are learning all of that stuff. I would have loved to have learned that stuff when i was in third grade instead of all the silly kid stuff that i was forced to learn, that I always thought was beneath me. I think that this new curriculum will make school a lot less boring for the children. Today's third graders are extremely lucky!!
1 person likes this
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
6 Sep 08
Computers and technology are becoming such a huge part of our lives. It is important that children are exposed to computers young. I know a lot of children receieve computer time at home but many do not. As children get older, they'll have to do a lot of work on computers. The earlier they can practice how to use the computer, the easier it will be for them to complete projects at school or at the library. Not to mention, this will help them when and if they go to college or even if they go to apply for jobs. It needs to be done. I don't think that teaching them how to use computers is taking away from their childhood, if anything, it's helping it flourish because it's a needed skill now just like math and reading and all of that other stuff they teach children.
1 person likes this
@lanlan011 (701)
• United States
6 Sep 08
Wow they are learning fast. I learned how to use a computer at the age of 5. I didnt learn how to type until 6. I learned how to powerpoint at the age of 11. Its sorta good. I dont think anything is wrong with it. But they should teach them when they are a little older. I dont think they will need powerpoint untill middle school. But its good but its moving them too fast.
