Memory Loss

I am beginning to wonder why my computer is smarter than I am. My brain, which used to be able to remember all kinds of information, is now failing me as I forget almost everything. Actually, I think my memory is OK, it just has a bad timer. There have been many instances where I am driving home and suddenly remember, "Oh...I should have done....today"!!! So I use the computer to organize my life because it never forgets. So does that make the computer smarter than me??? Perhaps yes, when it comes to memory or available information, but it does not have the ability to reason or think outside the box. It is the Star Trek principal where Spock was much smarter than Kirk, but did not have the ability to reason or express emotion.

I have recently read where children will soon be expected to spend much more time at school, possibly shortening the summer break to four weeks and/or lengthening school days. The problem is that our children are not progressing academically at the same rate as children from other countries. Now this is not a knock on education as much as an observation about the need for balance in ones life. I need balance - work time, family time, lone time and most importantly, God time. I feel children need even more. Yes, academics is important, but so is social interaction, so is family time, so is Church time. They need time to be children, go to summer camp, learn how to have a best friend, how to think for themselves, how to think about others. An education slanted imbalance might give us smarter people, but they will be less rounded.

At The Salvation Army we deal with children every day who have no time to be children. My fear is that more and more will be expected of them in the way of class work and homework, that our programs will begin to suffer, and perhaps summer camp will disappear altogether. We offer strong programs for children, programs that we want to grow. Programs that will include after school education, sports teams and character building. We all need to invest in our children, and education is a very important part of that...but not at any cost.