Back to Basics Skills Needed for the Information Age

SUMMARY OF ARTICLE*

Critics of all sorts have been bombarding the public schools because of the lack of commitment to excellence in education. Many say that the time has come to go back to the basics. However, much controversy rages as to the definition of " Basics ." Educators are unable to understand the solution, much less implement the basics. On one side, basics have been defined as simply " the 3 R's "; and on the other extreme they have been vaguely defined as " skills for living ".

The article goes on to discuss some of the shortfalls of the basics as merely " readin', 'ritin', and 'rithmetic ". because there is no discussion of including the arts, health, or physical education, this could leave a child ill-prepared to deal with modern society. A new era is dawning, and the basics should be geared to the future needs of students.

Our society is moving into the information age, thanks to the computer. This new technology allows for global communication of massive amounts of information being transmitted very rapidly. In order to sort and select appropriate data, special planning for users needs to be developed.

This is causing a decline in the industrial field; therefore, schools should begin preparing for the more intellectual jobs of the future. To survive and adapt to the changing conditions, students must acquire advanced reasoning skills, self-discipline, initiative, and independence.

A new set of basics has been created from this information age. An attempt to provide opportunities for students to develop the following four special skills needs to be made in order to prepare their minds for this important step.

· Technological Literacy Skills: The computer is here to stay. Not only is it in business, but also the home. Young people will have to be able to comprehend and analyze the information.

· Questioning Skills: Complex problems arise daily for students to handle. This questioning enhances both intellectual and social development.

· Generalization Skills: Because of the futility of trying to acquire knowledge as fast as it is discovered, an improved system for categorizing for more manageability and meaning needs to be made.

· Empathy Skills: This constant pressure of so many variables frequently leaves individuals without direction and without away to express emotions. Therefore, students need to learn how to express their emotions.

CRITIQUE

The Back-to-Basics Movement poses a thought-provoking question. One thing that is overlooked in all the controversy is the importance of close family ties. The computer is here to stay, but it is not a living creature. It is important to know how to communicate effectively with people first of all and then with this inanimate object because of its valuable position in our society However, our society is falling apart due to the decline of the family unit.

A computer cannot effectively help the teenager who is in an identity crisis. Finding his role in society should have begun at home. Preparing a youth for survival rests upon parents, not teachers. When parents do their part, the teacher can be more effective on their part.

All this new information has crowded out an important lesson from history. The Great and Magnificent Roman Empire was filled with vast resources of knowledge and innovative technologies. However, the family suffered a decline. Thus, the Roman Empire was unable to stand in all its might and wisdom. Shall we also allow all this intellectual development chip away at the most basic of human existence? Without a healthy family, can the computer ensure our survival as a society?

APPLICATION

As educators, it is important to keep abreast of new ideas. This article has stressed the importance of thinking and preparing the mind for channeling knowledge. Because of all the conflicting ideas of what is BASIC, we must remember to keep a balanced view. Children need to learn the 3 R's, but not at the expense of social interaction. The complexity of our society causes many stressful situations; therefore, empathy needs to be shown to help them survive all the changes they have inherited.

_______________________________________________________________________________

· *Balentine, Margaret B and Kenneth T Henson, Back to Basics: Skills Needed for the Information Age , Contemporary Education , Volume 56, No. 4, Summer 1985