In an age dominated by smartphones, tablets, and digital displays, it may seem unnecessary to teach children how to read an analog clock. Thus, some schools are now removing these clocks from exam rooms because many students struggle to tell time using them.
This raises an important question: Are we equipping the next generation with the fundamental skills they need, not just for convenience, but for resilience and self-sufficiency?
Technology has brought remarkable advancements, making life more efficient and interconnected. However, relying entirely on digital tools can create a fragile dependency. What happens when the battery dies, the power goes out, or technology is simply unavailable?
There is a practical benefit in knowing how to read an analog clock, just as there is in understanding basic arithmetic without a calculator or knowing how to navigate without GPS. These skills foster independence and confidence in a world that, despite its modern conveniences, remains unpredictable.
Unexpected benefits to knowing the basics
Beyond mere practicality, learning to read an analog clock offers cognitive benefits. Unlike digital clocks, which present time in an instant numerical format, analog clocks require an understanding of spatial awareness, fractions, and the passage of time. They help develop a child’s ability to grasp concepts like elapsed time and planning, skills that are invaluable in both academic and everyday life.
From a moral and philosophical perspective, there is value in teaching children skills that connect them to tradition and wisdom passed down through generations. Timekeeping, in its most fundamental sense, is not just about knowing when to start and stop an activity; it is about discipline, responsibility, and appreciating the rhythm of life.
Even in Scripture, time is presented as a gift and a resource to be used wisely: "Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart." (Psalm 90:12). This sentiment reminds us that time is not just something to be measured but to be stewarded with care.
While we should certainly embrace the benefits of modern technology, we must also be mindful of what is being lost when we forgo traditional skills. Just as reading an analog clock is a simple yet significant ability, there are many other life skills — such as cursive handwriting, map-reading, and mental arithmetic — that serve to make us well-rounded individuals capable of navigating the world with confidence.
These are not outdated abilities but enduring ones, reinforcing the idea that true knowledge is not confined to what is most convenient at a given moment.
Preparing for the future
Education should not simply be about preparing children for the immediate present, where digital convenience rules, but for a future where adaptability and foundational skills remain crucial. The removal of analog clocks from schools might seem like a small matter, but it signals a larger issue: Are we making learning easier at the cost of making children less capable?
Perhaps the better approach is not to remove analog clocks, but to ensure that all students are given the tools to read them with ease. In doing so, we preserve a skill that has stood the test of time — quite literally — and instill in young minds the understanding that some knowledge, no matter how simple, remains invaluable.
If you click on the slideshow below, you'll discover other pre-smartphone skills your children need to learn:
