Children don't know how to tell time anymore!!!!

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/teachers_say_children_are_beco.html

http://itotd.com/articles/297/revenge-of-the-analog-clock/

More and more kids can't read analog clocks because they're so used to digital clocks. I mean one day people in London will look at Big Ben and say, "WTF is this?!"

Should children be taught how to tell time from an analog clock?

Discuss.

You mean to tell me children aren't being taught how to tell time from an analog clock?F1_2004

yes

I was forced to learn analog when I was little, so yeah, other kids should too. I know if my future kids don't learn it in school, I'll teach them myself.

Hmm.......I think I see the problem...

Meh. Analog clocks are a thing of the past, that's like saying "WTF, kids can't work record players or VCRs!" I think everyone SHOULD learn it, but you can't blame anyone for it being phased out somewhat, it just isn't as relevant anymore.XilePrincess

Butthey should still know how to use them. After all they are so simple, just like record Players & VCR's. If they can't understand how to read an analog watch that means they can't read a compass, because apparently they do notunderstand fractions. Analong clocks where considered a thing of past when I was taught how to use them. Thatwas over twenty years ago.

The fact that it's sosimple yet they can't figure it out... is the problem. An analog clock is a geometrical device. A lot of things are measured with a circle broken up into fractions. That's what a compass is for.

The sundial was phased out for the analog clock, and now the analog clock will slowly be phased out for the digital clock. I'm sure they'll still exist, but digital clocks have become the future.

I agree with TC. Anyone who can't read 'em's clearly mentally crippled. I normally use Digital clocks. But that's only because I'm looking at a screen half my life and It's what's on the screen. I seriously prefer Analogue though

Hmm.......I think I see the problem...

Celldrax

Starting from 12:00

2*6=12

102,413-102,412 = 1

198/68 = 3

100/(50/2)=100/25 = 4

630/126 = 5

96/16 = 6

52 - 49 + 7 = 10

sqrt 64 = 8 since 8*8 = 64

3pi - (3*0.14) = approx 9 since pi is an irrational number

x = 2+ 8 = 10

1221/111 = 11

I don't see the value in teaching kids to operate or use an obsolete device.

[QUOTE="Celldrax"]

Hmm.......I think I see the problem...

Aku101

12:00

2*6=12

102,413-102,412 = 1

198/68 = 3

100/(50/2)=100/25 = 4

630/126 = 5

96/16 = 6

52 - 49 + 7 = 10

sqrt 64 = 8 since 8*8 = 64

3pi - (3*0.14) = approx 9 since pi is an irrational number

x = 2+ 8 = 10

1221/111 = 11

I shall put this knowledge to use good sir.......though to be honest I couldn't understand some of them :P (I only learned "necessary" maths in school)

I don't see the value in teaching kids to operate or use an obsolete device.GabuEx

The sundial was phased out for the analog clock, and now the analog clock will slowly be phased out for the digital clock. I'm sure they'll still exist, but digital clocks have become the future.

TINYOWNSYOU

I don't see the value in teaching kids to operate or use an obsolete device.

GabuEx

To be fair, if analogue clocks were phased out, I think that the 24 hour clock should then become the standard for all digitals.....otherwise there will still be people who don't know how to read the time.

[QUOTE="TINYOWNSYOU"]

The sundial was phased out for the analog clock, and now the analog clock will slowly be phased out for the digital clock. I'm sure they'll still exist, but digital clocks have become the future.

Tylendal

What? No it doesn't. Analog gives you a visual representation of a number. It's two levels of indirection.

I don't see the value in teaching kids to operate or use an obsolete device.

GabuEx

if it was REALLY obsolete don't you think they would've stopped putting it on watches, clocks and other time pieces by now?

[QUOTE="Tylendal"][QUOTE="TINYOWNSYOU"]

The sundial was phased out for the analog clock, and now the analog clock will slowly be phased out for the digital clock. I'm sure they'll still exist, but digital clocks have become the future.

GabuEx

What? No it doesn't. Analog gives you a visual representation of a number. It's two levels of indirection.

[QUOTE="TINYOWNSYOU"]

The sundial was phased out for the analog clock, and now the analog clock will slowly be phased out for the digital clock. I'm sure they'll still exist, but digital clocks have become the future.

Tylendal

I disagree.

I could say that digital clocks give a visual representation of time, and analog gives you a reading that has to be interpreted.

I would say the digital clock is superior just because it gives time in a flat numerical reading. Analog clocks are more difficult cause they point to different numbers, and sometimes point in between numbers. That takes more brain work to figure out, and the general public don't like brain work.

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

I don't see the value in teaching kids to operate or use an obsolete device.

z4twenny

if it was REALLY obsolete don't you think they would've stopped putting it on watches, clocks and other time pieces by now?

After the invention of the touch-pad telephone, rotary telephones still were manufactured for a while thereafter. That analog clocks are still around means nothing. Their numbers are fast dwindling. That is the key sign of obsolescence.

Yes, but time isn't a number. 11:54 needs to be interpreted, whereas "Okay, I've got that bit of time before the hour" is intuitive. You can't tell me you haven't glanced at a digital clock, then done so one or two times more as you realize you didn't really stop to think about what the time really was? I never have that problem with analogue.Tylendal

Unless someone has not yet intuitively picked up that the number on the right goes to 59 before the number on the right increments by 1, I cannot imagine how there would be a practical difference there.

^ do people not wear analog watches where you come from?

I still see analog clocks everywhere, governement buildings, schools, offices, the supermarket...

in fact in businesses i'd say they vastly outnumber digital devices.

[QUOTE="Tylendal"]Yes, but time isn't a number. 11:54 needs to be interpreted, whereas "Okay, I've got that bit of time before the hour" is intuitive. You can't tell me you haven't glanced at a digital clock, then done so one or two times more as you realize you didn't really stop to think about what the time really was? I never have that problem with analogue.GabuEx

Unless someone has not yet intuitively picked up that the number on the right goes to 59 before the number on the right increments by 1, I cannot imagine how there would be a practical difference there.

I would say the digital clock is superior just because it gives time in a flat numerical reading. Analog clocks are more difficult cause they point to different numbers, and sometimes point in between numbers. That takes more brain work to figure out, and the general public don't like brain work.

TINYOWNSYOU

Further proof that human civilization is heading toward an Idiocracy.

Yeah most of the kids in my grade cannot read analog clocks, and i get mad when they would freak out and ask -ME- the time because they couldnt tell it.

It became so much of an issue that the teachers issued time tests to try and get them to learn, and it didn't work- they still can't do it.

So guess what? Now all the schools clocks are digital. :(

Hmm.......I think I see the problem...

Celldrax

That's not a problem, that's the thing with anolog clocks you don't need the numbers you can tell the time from the position of the hands. They could put mini pictures from the karma sutra in each section and I will still be able to time give or take 1 minute.

[QUOTE="Celldrax"]

Hmm.......I think I see the problem...

Evil_Saluki

That's not a problem, that's the thing with anolog clocks you don't need the numbers you can tell the time from the position of the hands. They could put mini pictures from the karma sutra in each section and I will still be able to time give or take 1 minute.

Except it was only a joke :P

I carry a pocket watch around with me.If anyone asks the time,I pop it out,click it,look at the time and pass the information.

Yes,it does make you look cool.

I don't understand how it is even possible not to understand an analog clock, but maybe that's because it's intuitive for me now.

Analogue is inferior, there's no doubt about that. Maybe everyone should be taught inferior knowledge about everything, just so the population can be in sync with each other. Progress need wait to keep those comfortable.

^ do people not wear analog watches where you come from?

z4twenny

Does anyone still use analog watches to tell the time? 99.99% of the time they're used for fashion.

I don't know how modern the schools are there, but all my schools had analog clocks in them. If there's still analog clocks in school, I don't know why it's not be taught.

Plus I just think everyone should know how to read one, but I guess it's just my old fashioned opinion. :P

The 12 hour clock and its analogue counterpart are awful anyway. What idiot decided that the day should begin with the hour '12'. Splitting into 2 halves where the hour numbers are repeated in each half is tolerable, but why it doesn't at least have 1 as midnight and 1 as midday is odd. I think overall the 24 hour clock makes far more sense, beginning at 0:00 and acting as a timer would throughout the day until 23:59.

Even more radically I'd prefer a 10 hour clock, with 100 decimal minutes in each hour, each with decimal 100 seconds. Or if we want total compatibility with computers, we could use a hexadecimal system, but humans naturally find decimal easiest thanks to our 10 fingers and 10 toes.

EDIT: Also, while I'm ranting about time, one thing I hate more than 12 hour time is whoever decided to make digital 24 hour clocks with '24' in them. There is no 24.. including 24 is a continuation of the stupidity of starting the 12 hour clock at '1'. It's 0-23, nothing else. I still occasionally see digital clocks with 24, and it's just stupid.

Lesson 1: Digital watches don't go with a suit. Get an analog you idiot.

Lesson 2: Get a SUIT!

Barney Stinson

for those retards who can't read analog watches read time from your cell ;)

eh everything with a screen has a digital watch on it. It's the way of the future don't fight it embrace it. Though people should be able to view a giant analogue clock such as Big Ben and get what time it is.

Not long ago, I went into a watch store and the majority of watches for sale were analogue watches. I have more analogue clocks and watches than I do digital and I have a lot of clocks and watches. If you click on the time on the taskbar, sure it is in digital on the taskbar, but when you open it up to see the calender or set the time, Windows shows you an analogue (with digital underneath it or them as Vista and 7 can have multiple clocks) clock.

People should be able to read time no matter what format it is in and yes, people are getting dumber each and every day.

well, the same goes for cursive hand writing. Apparently many schools dont bother teaching it anymore. Everything is in the "now" and digital clocks are easier to read than analog. Fuhgeddabouditt

Oh, so it's not just me they decided not to teach cursive to? Phew.

I blame the school system for my signature.

Reading analog clocks is a pretty worthless skill in today's age.