Children Quote by Simon Rich
““I still remember the day I got my first calculator Teacher: All right, children, welcome to fourth grade math. Everyone take a calculator out of the bin. Me: What are these? Teacher: From now on we'll be using calculators. Me: What do these things do? Teacher: Simple operations, like multiplication and division. Me: You mean this device just...does them? By itself? Teacher: Yes. You enter in the problem and press equal. Me: You...you knew about this machine all along, didn't you? This whole time, while we were going through this...this charade with the pencils and the line paper and the stupid multiplication tables!...I'm sorry for shouting...It's just...I'm a little blown away. Teacher: Okay, everyone, today we're going to go over some word problems. Me: What the hell else do you have back there? A magical pen that writes book reports by itself? Some kind of automatic social studies worksheet that...that fills itself out? What the hell is going on? Teacher: If a farmer farms five acres of land a day-- Me: So that's it, then. The past three years have been a total farce. All this time I've been thinking, "Well, this is pretty hard and frustrating but I guess these are useful skills to have." Meanwhile, there was a whole bin of these things in your desk. We could have jumped straight to graphing. Unless, of course, there's some kind of graphing calculator! Teacher: There is. You get one in ninth grade. Me: Is this...Am I on TV? Is this a prank show? Teacher: No.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Simon Rich on The New Yorker, 2021
A student discovers how calculators simplify calculations, realizing past lessons felt unnecessary and questioning the value of traditional teaching methods.
In simple terms: Students realize tech can replace manual work, feeling both awe and frustration.
Key Takeaway
Embrace tools that enhance learning, but balance with foundational understanding.
Themes
education
technology
learning
frustration
revelation
Mood
astonished
reflective
critical
Type
anecdotal
reflective
critical
When to use this quote
- classroom teaching
- curriculum design
- teacher training
- student mindset
- technology integration
Key Concepts
automation
cognitive shift
educational critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How can educators integrate technology without diminishing core skills?
- What balance should be struck between manual practice and digital assistance?
A Different Perspective
Relying solely on tools may erode basic skills and critical thinking.
![“I was never a cool person; in fact, cool people have always made fun of me. That’s why I loved [the Robert Cormier YA novel] The Chocolate War - because the cool kids (not the establishment) were the villains. I totally identified with that.” quote by Simon Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/503/simon-rich-25140_chocolate_i-was-never-a-cool-person-in-fact-cool-p_620335.jpg)
