Technology sometimes confusing
To the Editor:
Years ago, as an avocation I was teaching a course in electronics for TV and Computers to would-be technicians. The students were each issued hand-held calculators for their use. While they learned many basics and were prepared for employment, they had virtually no knowledge of logarithms and the mathematical principals underlying calculators. They weren’t supposed to, as this was not a college course. Concerning children, are we doing an end run around “Imagineering”? As a kid I remember having little toy cars and trucks. We built roads and bridges in sand piles and imagined the rest. This was a prenatal stage to driving, building, sculpting, etc. Today’s children start with sophisticated electronic games and the like, bypassing those fundamental steps. They become artful in using these gadgets, but have little knowledge of their basics. After all, a person can use a computer without understanding the inner workings within. We cannot all know everything about everything! The question I have is: Are we bypassing Imagineering and making technicians of almost everyone or are we simply launching our youngsters from a higher springboard? Fortunately, we still have many fine scientists probing the basics and keeping us connected to the sand pile. Being in my 80th year, I vividly remember many lessons of my youth. They were important foundations for my later learning. Shouldn’t we all have foundations for learning? Oops, I have to run! My PC has a glitch. I have to call my grandson and ask him how to fix it.
Jake S. Bailey
Anderson, S.C.
Veterans group appreciates cell phone program participation
To the Editor:
The Tri-County Vietnam Veterans Group would like to thank everyone in the tri-state area who cared enough to take part in the “Cell Phones for Soldiers Program.”
This program works with a cell phone recycling company that will issue a free one hour phone card to a deployed military man or woman over seas, for each used cell phone or cell phone accessory sent to them.
Collected by County: Bell County - 633 items; Lee County - 59 items; Claiborne County - 23 items.
The top particpation was from Lone Jack Elementary School with a whopping 299 items collected. To the students and administration at Lone Jack, we sincerely thank you.
To all who felt this program was not worth the time and effort, remember there are 19 or 20 year old men and women in uniform around the world willing to die so you can sleep easy at night and drink your latte in the mornings.
Thank you,
Larry Thacker Sr.
President of the Tri-County Vietnam Veterans Group
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