Cellphones Future Substitute Teachers
Once upon a time, before Dutch, Spanish, English, French and German, people sent and received messages by listening to the drum. Drums are not the same size. For example, drums in Japan and China are massive. Africa has many sizes, including the small one you tuck in between your legs or armpit.
The drum was the communication tool. What is today’s tool? Cellphones. Yes, but reading and writing is still important. That’s why you are here in school, to learn about your city, country, money, nature and the world, through reading and writing.
Teachers cannot deviate from this script because their job is at stake. They cannot reveal their insecurity about the future. Education is summed up in two words: read and write. Time passed and there was radio and television. It broke some teacups but they still need reading and writing in some shape or form. The danger with the cellphone is that, it’s a communication tool that doesn’t.
It is a look-and-hear device. The two eyes and ears replace someone standing in front of kids, telling them that water boils when it reaches a certain temperature. The cellphone is a substitute teacher because there are no missed classes. Kids can rewind videos if they didn’t understand the first time around and also have a back-up teacher. Google.
Spelling is very important in reading and writing. The cellphone is a danger to the teacher because it predicts words. I don’t have to finish typing the word campaign because artificial intelligence (AI) kicks in at camp …… It knows I want campaign and not camp, as in summer camp.
Schools. Education takes place in buildings called schools. If reading and writing dies and teachers are laid off, what will happen to buildings called pre-school, junior high, high school, university and graduate school? No schools means no property taxes. Parents will love that, not City Hall, because it uses taxes to build schools.
Nonqaba waka Msimang
Executive Blogger.
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