Yes, you need to spend time in college for most important jobs but you do not need a deep understanding of a tool that does the drudgery of your job. You need to understand that the tool exists, that it is accessible, generally (not deeply) how it works and when to use it. Repetitive, rote practice of manual calculation is a pointless waste of time for 10 year-olds. We don’t teach Ag students how to manage oxen and we don’t teach fighter pilots how to hand spin a prop driven biplane. They can learn those things on their own time if they have any interest
What he stated is right.
It has nothing to do with the technology. The technology only makes the basics easier (usually).
As an engineer I can say unequivocally he is correct, even at college level. One must understand principles in order to really “get it” with ANY technology. One gets it better by DOING - writing (visual) and hearing (audio) reiterates it in the mind. then you don’t need to keep going back to instructions because you can do it yourself.
My mother was a teacher, and this was always her philosophy, too.
All that tech is fluff. All it is is a tool; it is NOT the end in itself, which far too many fall for. It will be here today, gone tomorrow, anyway. Meanwhile, the principles STILL STAND for centuries.