Yes, we are old folks. Yesterday, I consulted my optometrist, for my annual vision check-up. I had to determine if I needed to upgrade my glasses. All routine. Unfortunately, my vision professional’s computer was not functioning. After some time gazing at digital dysfunction, in my non-tech savvy way, I suggested that she either obtain a geek pronto, or write my prescription with pen and paper.

I must say that took her breath away! “No, I can’t do that!” was her response. This reminds me of a recent jaunt to Spotlight to buy wool, essential travel to increase my wool stash. Arriving at the exit, not one electronic cash register was operational. There was much consternation among the check-out chicks, and their manager.

Customers waited, and waited, and waited. I presented the correct cash, ready. But no, no check-out chick could make a transaction. Fuming, one younger customer hurled her fabric at a hapless Spotlight lass, and left the building, muttering, “I’m going to Lincraft!” Sad, but true, not one check-out chick could calculate a sale with pen and paper.

This made me recall old-fashioned days, when shopkeepers were equipped with a pencil tucked behind their ear. They were quite capable of tallying a whole series of totals of sales, accepting proffered cash, and calculating the correct change. My parents, the customers, would stand there and do the mental arithmetic necessary to ensure the shopkeeper was correct, not a half-penny more or less. We quickly acquired our own skills at mental arithmetic.

These days, I am also a Maths tutor, a survivor of an education system which did not have calculators or google. Yes, we survived deciphering compound interest on sums with pounds, shilling and pence. Somehow. Now I work with late-bloomers. I have found that they find it difficult to master mental arithmetic. Maybe we were educated in different way from an early age, to tally columns of figures.

At certain times in my life, I have even amused my neurons with a game called, “Race the Calculator.” It is amazing what the human brain can achieve. I guess we, the baby boomers, felt the need to invent digital technology, so we can stare at digital dysfunction, making humans feel stupid!

Never mind, grandparents of kids who struggle with Maths. You can teach them to master a calculator. After Year 10, they can delete Maths altogether, and learn to master other subjects. A question for you all: “Did you enjoy Mental Arithmetic too?”