I stopped at a fast-food restaurant to purchase a meal. The young man behind counter kept glancing over his shoulder to look at the overhead menu as he pressed the buttons on the terminal in front of him.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Well,” he said, “The light that light that lights up the pictures on the screen went out, so I can’t see the pictures. I’m looking over my shoulder to match the words on the menu to the words on the screen so I can punch in your order.”
Now, I realize that the fast-food people are in the business of making money, not teaching their employees to read. But at what point do we simplify tasks to such a point that we teach the next generation that there is no reason to know the essentials reading, writing and arithmetic?
The reality is that the vast majority can and will learn these skills if we push them. Rather than make continual excuses and accommodations, let’s make them work harder. After all, they’re the future of our society.