Are We Losing The Art of Telling Time in New York Schools?

Select schools in New York have removed analog clocks from classrooms in favor of digital clocks.

One of the first things most of us learned in elementary school was how to tell time. By the time we were 7 or 8, we understood the difference between the hour and minute hands. By 10? You could glance at a clock across the room and know exactly what time it was...no digital help needed.

Kids Can't Tell Time

Unfortunately, that doesn't appear to be the case for many kids today, as there are numerous videos on social media showing an adult pointing at an old-school analog clock and asking teenagers what the correct time is. The responses? Confusion, hesitation, and in some cases, completely wrong answers.

More and more kids today rely entirely on digital displays. Phones, tablets, and laptops always show time in a simple, easy-to-read format. No interpretation needed.

Which might explain what’s happening next.

Schools Replacing Analog Clocks in New York

There are select schools right here in New York that have started removing analog clocks from classrooms and replacing them with digital ones.

In parts of the Hudson Valley, parents told us that some elementary classrooms in the Minisink area have already made the switch. Some programs at Orange-Ulster BOCES have reportedly done the same.

Are We Solving the Problem, or Avoiding It?

As a parent, this hits home. I’ve got a couple of teenagers, and let me tell you, “time” can be a challenge. One day, my son asked what time it was. I looked at my watch and said, “It’s twenty ‘til 10.”

You would’ve thought I was speaking a different language. He had no idea what I meant.

So I broke it down, 9:40....twenty minutes until 10. Still confused, I told him that we were going to work on relearning the clock over the next few weeks. Thankfully, after a bit of time, he got it.

SEE ALSO: Dutchess County Dad Accused of Lying About Address to Get Kids Into School

Which raises the bigger question. If kids are struggling with something this simple, should we be removing it? Or teaching it better?

Parents and Teachers Weigh In

A lot of parents feel strongly about this. “Taking out clocks because children are having trouble reading them is like throwing away books because they struggle to read. Absolutely absurd," said one parent.

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One teacher explained, “Technology is moving forward, and tools that make life easier have value. But there are also basic skills kids need, and we’re already being asked to teach so much. There just isn’t enough time.”

Is Removing Clocks the Answer?

If you’re a parent, would you be OK with your child’s school ditching analog clocks altogether? Or is this one of those basic skills that still matters? Let us know what you think through our station app above.