So I go to buy lunch at a food truck on campus, total was an even $6. I handed the young lady $6, but then realized I needed smaller bills in my wallet, so I said Wait, I need change. Can you break this $20? You can keep the $6 since it is even. She instantly got flustered. So I told her she just needed to give me back a 10 and two 5s. But she desperately wanted to give me back $14... Even when I explained again to her that she is just breaking the $20 and I already gave her $6. She was totally flummoxed and I was getting impatient and tried explaining it to her again, but she turned to the (manager?) who was prepping the food, who decided hed better figure things out. She told him what I gave her after he asked a few questions and explained that she should give me a 10 and two 5s as Id asked. Observations: 1) I was sad to witness this young college student panic immediately when she encountered a situation that made her calculate on her feet (or even understand logic). 2) I wonder if calculators and registers are to blame-- why cant people do math on the fly anymore? Surely as a cashier she should have some skill. But I wonder whether she will learn, if the register gives her the calculation all the time. 3) Its too bad people dont challenge themselves more throughout their lives to calculate on the fly. It is a choice we make… to think, or not to think… and it seems too often that people choose the latter.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 21:09:24 +0000
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