[cweaver]

Computers are used in most industries today. Framing, not so much. The ability to use a computer is becoming nearly as important as being able to drive. Sure, you can do without it but you're probably not going to go very far.

[rhizome]

Then why don't children learn to drive in elementary school?

[ctdonath]

They should.

In elementary school, children should be introduced to the bare essentials of vehicular mechanics, say with simple rubber-band powered Lego cars. Over time, increase the sophistication of the science, engineering, and even social aspects of vehicles - eventually building go-carts and learning to drive them as a subset of state driving regulations, and working up to real cars and getting a driver's license. BTW: most jurisdictions only impose driving age limits on public roads; kids certainly are allowed to drive on public property (I've known kids who learned to drive at 14 or earlier).

They should also learn cooking, sewing, carpentry, welding, shooting, fieldcraft, and every other variant of the Boy Scout Handbook and Heinlein's "specialization is for insects" quote. Dang straight they should learn the essential basics of driving early on.

[rhizome]

Yet they don't, and driving affects their lives and their driving has a potentially disastrous effect on other peoples' lives to a much greater degree than their computer use and level of skill does.

[w0rd-driven]

Most of my driving skills, and my disdain for other people "who use a car and can't drive" comes from driving games in arcades as a kid.

Now that arcades are dead in the US? There goes easy access to a really useful "simulator as a game". "Driving" in a game on an iPad is nowhere near close as Race Drivin' which had a clutch, a starter key, and relatively functioned as a real car (i.e. if you picked manual expect that bitch to stall).

If I wrote a blog post about driving, I would be far more snarky and dismissive than this author. It's one of my biggest pet peeves. I borderline consider myself a "professional driver" though I would lack the credentials but it just rubs me so wrong that people are this fucking careless at it as I see every time I get behind the wheel. I'm frankly surprised some people still live.

[cweaver]

Because students are expected to use computers to complete their work in high school and sometimes sooner. There is no coincidence that driving classes and learners permits are given before the ability to get a licence to drive. They should learn good practices just before they are expected to perform.

[rhizome]

Let's look at this "expected to use" assumption: are these tasks for which computers are necessary? Are they tasks for which using a computer eases the teacher's job? Are they tasks that increase the child's knowledge of computers in themselves? How is it different than learning how to cook french fries?

By the same token though, wouldn't it be a good idea for children know the rules of the road before they're gunning for their licenses? I think you contradict yourself in your last sentence.