What is this world coming to? I'm convinced that, "ONE DAY", all of this so called 'modern technology' is going to just blow up and the whole world is going to go completely crazy. Pretty soon, your kids won't ever need to take a pencil and paper to school, everything will be done on the computer......so sad! ! !

It's sad that in todays world things have to be so "fast"...quick response...quick everything! Counting change seems to be a lost art. I actually had a clerk count change back to me in what I call the "correct" way...he counted from the amount of the sale to the amount I gave him! I was stunned! But here's another thing that gets my goat ... I was buying a computer program (expensive to say the least) & the clerk scanned the container it was stored in...price came up to $10,999.99. She didn't look at the price..just said to swipe my card. My reply was "I don't think so!" She scanned the wrong bar code and her monitor was telling her not to scan that bar code. She didn't check anything. Her excuse was that it was her day off and was called in. Why is it that excuses have to be made? Whether it's counting change or just doing your job? Well, I guess I've said enough! Except, I really love spending time on this board! You are all so wonderful! Thanks for being here with me!

What about clocks if they aren't digital, they don't know how to tell time. -- J

This drives me crazy it happened this past Saturday in JoAnn's I ran in to pick up something I needed in a hurry. My bill was $11.10 I gave her $20.10 and then I saw I did have a one so I said or here left he give you the one also. It took 5 minutes plus the manager to come over I said all I need is a $10.00 bill back? The sad thing the manager was just about a stupid! Drives me crazy also.

Wrong attribution of responsibility. The fault lies with state and federal policy that has created a multi-billion dollar a year testing industry. Teachers do not have time to teach anything that is not on the test and in any case might not dare do so. The buzz word is "accountability." One administrator told a group of fourth-grade teachers that she resents teachers who teach anything but what is "on the test." I taught high school seniors government and economics and once spent an entire school day--count the cost of all the substitutes and the cost of the consultant--"learning" how to help students "beat" the test. When is the public going to wake up? The tests are killing education! froggyintexas

I hear what your saying. At the fabric shop that I work at I believe that I am the only one whom counts back the old fashion way. Many customers do acknolwedge that in one way or another. It is a shame that isn't taught today.

I used to work as a cashier, both in a grocery store and called Grants. The grocery store we had what I would call bang boxes. You know with rows of numbers, you push down the keys, then have to hit another key to register. Now there was also a tax key and we had to know what was taxed and what wasn't, but, we also had to know, how to count change.
Today's registers, tell what change is after submitting what was given to the teller and some even disburse the change.
We never had calculators in class..I suppose progression with the times allows this now.
What I don't like is when grocery shopping something is on sale. They scan the regular price, then followed on the next line amount for sale..with sale price. When the total runs it takes all savings at once. Hard sometimes to figure it.

yep...even at the dentist's office...to make a simple calculation, the girl needed a calculator!
Kids don't learn by using a calculator...they need to learn the process.

When my kids were younger and playing in Little League, the parents had to take a turn working in the "Snack Shack" on Saturdays. My husband and I always enjoyed it because it was an oppurtunity to work with all the kids. I can't tell you how many kids we taught to make change over the years. Make change for the first dollar first and the rest is easy. I was always surprised that these kids weren't taught how to do this in school like we were. It's funny now that when clerks have a computer to tell them how much change to return and they still get it wrong. Maybe we just need to go back to the old Cash Box! LOL

Telling time, making change, and Math aren't the only things that children aren't taught any more. Our grandchildren live in Phoenix, Az and aren't taught to write cursive. They figure if they can print and use the computer they won't have to write in cursive. If you write them a letter in cursive handwriting they struggle for hours to try and read it. They are allowed to use their calculators on their math homework and on their math tests. I guess the theory is that they still have to know the process in order to get the right answer but the closest thing to a calculator we ever got to use was a slide rule and that was only on the test on how to use a slide rule.
I went to nursing school when I was 40. I had to take a placement test in order to register. The instructor was astounded that after being out of school for over 20+ years that I could score a 97% on the math test. She said they have current HS graduates that can't pass the entry test in math and they have to refuse them entry into the nursing program. On our math tests in nursing if you missed 1 question you flunked the test and would have to take the whole thing over. Why? Would you want to be the one who got the wrong dosage of medication? Ann in TN

I never leave WalMart without checking my receipt. They are notorious for pricing something on the shelf and then scanning a different price when you check out.

Several year ago I was taking one of my boys to school one day. He was probably 13 or so at the time. We stopped for some small item at a Walgreens. The clerk could not make change with a $5.00 bill. After we left I looked at my son and said now do you know why you are in school!!!

I work at a University. One day I went to the Bakery to get a drink - after tax, it came to 79 cents. The student worker assumed I would give her $1, so entered that into the computer. Well, I added a 4 pennies, so I would get back a quarter.

Well, she was thoroughly confused, kept staring at the coins in her hand, looking at me, looking at the register. Finally she got out her calculator, punched away, stared some more. Repunched on the calculator, etc, etc, etc.

I stood there (seemingly) patiently, and just smiled, not offering the answer at all as to how much change I should have. I figured if she was in college, she should be able to do it. Almost 5 minutes later, and several calculations of the calculator, she did finally come up with the right answer!

My grandkids are being taught how to count money. And I refuse to let the default to a calculator to get answers. It is OK to double check with a calculator, but it first has to be figured manually!

I never would let my kids (daughter and son) use a calculator to do t heir homework..just to check it. What really makes the clerk give me a dumb look is when I give them the extra change..say the bill is $20.35..I give them $25.35...they are really dumb founded if they can't use the registers that tell them how much change to give back.

When a customer hands me cash for their purchase, I state the purchase amount and the amount of cash, ie: $24.95 out of $30.00. This way the customer knows I'm paying attention and I have impressed my mind with the amount. Then I count the change due back. When I'm the customer, I count my change if the clerk doesn't. As others pointed out, many young people aren't being taught to think, just look at what the register says.

We ran a concession stand at the swim invitational this weekend. Three young (freshman or 8th grade girls) showed up to help. It was very quickly that we discovered that the young girls could not make change...no cash register. Not one of them knew what to do..no calculator either. The adults had to count back change. So-----I am going to make sure that my children are able to do this...(whether they like it or not).
Someday they will need to know this.

I'm a cashier and count change back the right way (old school) and they stand there and look at me funny or tell me I gave them too much so I start over it was 18.00 from 50 so 19 -20 etc. . the young and some old look at me funny but computers make mistakes too. not just me........ oh and after they enter the amount do not give them the change you'll be there a while teaching them what is the right amount to give you lol

Been there and done that too. Makes you wonder if suddenly our technology for short cuts was gone, what would happened to business.

Yes, watch Walmart, as their excuse is "must not have made the correction yet in the computer system". I'll stand there until they find out what is wrong and correct the problem. I'm retired and I got the time to stand there holding up the line. No wonder Walmart makes big profit$.

Amen to finding enough slide rules! They are no longer manufactured anywhere, I understand. When we have to learn those skills again, who will teach us and where will we get the slide rules. We will be back in the stone age where elders were greatly respected for their great accumulated knowledge.

I was a mgr. of cashiers for 8 years. I could not believe the number of cashiers that didn't know how. ie customer buys $9.45 for something, hand the cashier a $10.00 bill. The cashier types in $100. and was about to hand the customer change for $100.00. Luckily the customer would not accept it. At that point ALL cashiers were instructed to learn how to count back. :thumbup:

When my son was in college he worked at a video rental store, and was required to "count back" a customer's change. Although the register did display the amount of change due, the owner of the store insisted that ALL change be counted back the old way.

I recount, too. Mistakes happen.

I know that this isn't representative of all younger people, but about 20 yrs ago, my family and I were at a fast food restaurant while traveling. The electronic cash registers were not working, so they were adding everything up on paper. The young man waiting on us added everything up in twos. Added the first two items, then items three and four, etc. After adding finally finishing the first pairs, he started in again, adding the sums of his first go-round in pairs. Repeated until he was down to a final two sums to get our total. He couldn't add a column of numbers.

There are schools now that start kindergarden kids with computers. I saw a news report last week I think it was and I forget which state it was but they now start kindergarden kids with computers but what I saw of it was not necessarily taking away the way to learn. That states school system has 45% of its 4th graders that fail so they started this test program that for the next 4 years all kindergarden kids will have a computer ... actually it was not a computer but an iPad to teach them the basics of reading and numbers. They have tested a group that did it and have jumped two grade levels to be on track when they get to 4th grade.

Seems basics a child needs to learn to carry him/her through are learned from kindergarden to 3rd grade and after that they should be able to do anything if thought what they need.

I see the problem as being way to many students in a class. My 4th grade GD has 33 students in her class this year from 22 last year in 3rd grade. My 7 year old GD who is suppose to be in 2nd grade but in first if they did not move her to a special class of now 10 kids to learn would be left behind in the class of 25 plus for 1st graders. Now she has a chance to learn and hopefully make it to 2nd grade next year.

I blame her parents though for her failing kindergarden and doing it twice. They don't work with the child to learn what she needs and also she was not allowed to go to daycare or pre-k and if her mother had her way she would not have gone to kindergarden. I had to fight for her to go to kindergarden two years ago. Mother's attitude was in the state of GA a child is not required to be in school until age of 6 which I did not know and she was keeping girl home because she wanted someone home with her yet she was teaching her nothing.

Now I have taken control of childs education and put both my son and that girls mother on alert not to screw with her education or they will have to answer to me. I AM MAKING them bring the girl to me 3 days a week for tutoring so she can learn to read and she is already improving.

So guess it's not all schools failing with over crowding when kids have parent from generation X who think the world owes them something and they leave there kids behind and not tending to them.

Agree!

Another thing we need to watch is if they put cash back on the receipt and you didn't want cash back and then you are paying for the money you didn't receive. Had email warning about this happening to some folks.

I learned to use a sewing machine at age 9 or 10...because my mom was afraid of her machine....wouldn't use it.
I had first learned to sew by hand, out of necessity. When mom realized I could sew, she taught me all the different hand stitching she knew..but she would not touch that new Kenmore. When she realized I could use it...I got (at age 10) all the sewing that needed to be done by machine. That was 50 years ago (yikes!), and now I have about a dozen machines...but I still hand embroider when watching tv, at the doctors office, etc.

My mom had the mind of a 10 year old...couldn't read or write well...but, darn it, try to cheat her out of a penny & she knew it! She could count...couldn't do addition or subtraction...but she knew if she spent 1.08, and gave the clerk 2.00, she should get three quarters, a dime, a nickel and two pennies back...if not...she went on a tirade about how pennies count...from her depression experience.
Mom wouldn't touch a calculator or computer...they scared her to pieces.
I find nothing wrong with using a calculator to prove your work..but darn it...learn simple math!

I hated algebra...didn't see why I needed A + B=C...when 1 + 2= 3 worked just fine.
Went for a job interview...huge math test...mostly algebra and calculation of fractions. I ace that test...why? Because my dad insisted I would need the junk some day. Sure, using a calculator is faster, but it does not stimulate the brain.

Ah, today's kids!
When I was in college, I worked the concession stands at the games. Had to add all those hot dogs, chips, drinks, in my head! No cash register, just a cash box.
And yes, I counted the change for the customers just like you.

Today's kids don't have to do do this because all cash registers are computerized. When I hand a cashier $5 and one nickel for a bill of $4.05, they can't figure that one out! Yes, even the kids in advanced classes. They can do more than we ever could (I didn't use a calculator till college statistics) but WE can also do things they can't.

I just saw this yesterday, and so appropriate for this topic. To quote Judge Judy-"Beauty fades, dumb is forever!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QBv2CFTSWU

How many of us know how/have ever washed clothes on a rock? Sure doesn't stop me from using my new fangled automatic washer. LOL I never made a clothing object entirely by hand either, but really love my new sewing machine. Just saying.....

Hey Old Hen! My automatic dishwasher went belly-up several months ago. Presently we can't afford to get it repaired. So I have been doing our dishes the old fashioned way, by hand in the sink!!! I'm getting arthritis in my hands and doing dishes the old way has actually made them feel better. Must be the almost hot water and the action of washing dishes. So there is something to be positive about.

Never mind cursive writing, how about writing in general? I gave a beautiful quilt to a young (26 & 34 yr.olds) couple for their wedding. The thank you was an email! Guess I should be happy I received that! I should talk, I never write a letter, just email or phone or text.

I have trained a lot of teenagers (and my own sons) and it is amazing to me that they do not learn this in school. I began tutoring math all through my boys school adventures. The teenagers that I taught were shocked how easy and accurate it is to count money back that way.

On a side note: I was at the gym the other day and bought a smoothie. The price was $5.94 and I gave the girl $6.00 and because the cash register did not tell her how much change to give me, she did not know. It was 6 cents, I was horrified. I noticed 2 days later and she no longer worked there. So sad.

I wonder how many students can do long division without a calculator? I bet not many.

I hav ealways counted change this way. I still do it just to have my own little revenge on impatient people behind me. :thumbup:

I can understand the need for a calculator in the advanced math my son [now 37] was taught how to do the problems on paper first then on the calc.He thought that was a waste of time his teacher said"And if your battery dies how will you ever get the answer" to pass my course and later keep your job? Its not just math. English seems to have taken a back seat on the bus as well ? Do they even TEACH the fundamentals any more.

When my son started college in engineering, he was NOT allowed to use the calculator in one math class. Each problem would take 5 or 6 pages to work out by hand and they could not erase! They had to show the mistake and how they "fixed" it.

Last year, after 12 years as a media specialist in my district, I went back into the classroom to teach 4th grade math and science after the district did away with school librarians. I was stunned that the district's math program (adopted by our curriculum dept. and school board) did not advocate memorization of basic math facts and kids were encouraged to count on fingers and/or use calculators. I know not every child can memorize math facts easily, but all can memorize some! I encourage it, but am told I am not teaching the curriculum the way it is written. I really worry about what will happen when these kids are adults. When I give a quiz on basic facts, you can almost feel a breeze in the classroom from so many kids counting on their fingers. But by the time I get them in 4th grade, their habits are set. They can't add 6 plus 6 yet and I have to teach them multiplication, division, and long division!

YES, & how about catching the dishonest ones too. I gave a $20, & got change back-for a $10...called him on it & he says without blinking an eye-oh I just thought you gave me a $10---I worked in retail & trained cashiers, there are a few that are slick enough to pocket the extra as the customer has the right to demand the drawer pulled & tallied to the sales-& of course the drawer tallies-but I caught a few too.

Counting on the fingers should be for 1st, 2nd, maybe 3rd. Our 4th graders are expected to memorize the multiplication tables and are given tests on them. BUT they do not fail if they fail to do so. And they "learn" the facts for the test but then quickly forget it. Then the 5th grade teachers have to let the kids use the calculators or use fingers or just look at a chart to get the work done. They can't hold up a whole class to "re-learn" last year's work.

The kid's just say, "I'll always have my phone (with calculator) with me. I don't need to know this." The parents don't insist on these things because they just want their darlings to get an A in class. And the "experts" say their lack of memory is because of computers; the knowledge they fail to learn is always at their fingertips.

'Round and 'round we go!