Posted on 02/13/2026 5:21:44 PM PST by DoodleBob
An old newspaper page from 1986 has resurfaced on social media, showing math teachers protesting against the use of calculators in the classroom, until upper grades. Back then, the concerns were not only about students' academic dependency, but many feared that it would replace human skills and take away jobs that depended on manual calculation.
Years later, the history appears to repeat itself. This time, the conversation has shifted from calculators to Artificial Intelligence, as an AI tool can take on tasks like -- writing, designing, teaching, and problem-solving, eventually weakening critical thinking, creativity and overall learning process.
Just like calculators, AI can easily outperform humans in speed and specific tasks. AI works continuously and cuts costs, which makes the fear of becoming irrelevant and replaceable quicker.
History suggests something important
Skills and jobs rarely disappear overnight. Instead, they transform the old skills into new ones. The calculator era showed the adoption for those who decided to endure the struggle. Even prominent leaders agree.
Infosys founder Narayana Murthy does not see AI as a threat, but as a tool that enhances human abilities, calling it the next big frontier in technology. Highlighting its potential, Murthy said AI can help solve complex problems and described the human mind as the “most flexible instrument.”
The 1986 protest reminds us that fear often comes before adaptation. What once appeared like a threat later became a job evolution.
The post on X, by @JonErlichman, quickly went viral, triggering widespread discussion across social media platforms.
One user humorously wrote, “Wait until these teachers hear about ChatGPT. They’re going to need bigger signs.’’
Another user commented, “Seems like the protests worked? I didn't use a calculator until I got to algebra 2.’’
A third user said, “Nothing will ever change? No one will ask this simple question. Why?”
“The sad part is what happened to HP, as they migrated to crappy bloatware-infested PCs and overpriced printers.”
The printers are cheap. Almost free considering the included ink cartridges.
My grandfather was the equivalent in his day of an electrical engineer as he was born in the 1880’s and what he knew was self taught.
He gave me a huge binary slide rule when I was in the fifth grade.
The advantage of a binary slide rule was that its circumference was equivalent to length of a regular slide rule.
I forgot what the equivalent was in length.
But the longer the slide rule the finer the accuracy.
My grandfather taught me right angle trig when I was in the fifth grade and to do so he had to sneak in some algebra.
When I was a senior in high school the counselor advised me to take my fourth year of math which would have been solid geometry and trig as my rural school did not offer calculus in those days.
I shocked the counselor as I said my grandfather already taught me trig and I wanted to take a vocational class in auto mechanics.
In college, I ended up with the hours to claim a math major although my undergraduate degree was in communication.
Any way I had 15 hours of college calculus using the trigonmetry my grandfather taught me in the fifth grade.
Ink and toner cartridges included with printers are usually “starter cartridges” containing less than the full amount of ink or toner.
They are not a bargain, but gullible people are expected to think that they are.
But yes, printers can be cheap, but you pay out the wazoo for full cartridges when the time comes. That’s all part of their long-term marketing strategy, hence my use of the term “overpriced”.
“I was kind of a Math-whiz in H.S... Algebra/Trig/Calculus came easy and I enjoyed it.. Not sure if calculators would have helped back then... Also, it was funny the college bound folks asking my help - except the well-endowed girl who was very friendly.”
Dude, If your life is so great, why do you have to expound on every thread to the proles?
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