The worrying reasons of schools remove analog clocks – as teachers give warning

Schools remove analogue clocks in exam rooms because teenagers can no longer tell time.

Digital clocks were installed in some schools in the United Kingdom after students from GCSE and A-level complained that they could not read the right time, which contributed to the stress of exams.

Children must learn to tell time with the use of an analog clock at the age of seven – but it seems that many quickly forget the skill.

Education leaders, teachers and trade unions said that digital clocks on smartphones and other electronic devices are the most important driver behind young people who lose the skill.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said earlier: ‘We are aware of some schools that replace analog clocks with digital clocks in exam rooms.

‘Young people who take exams have been raised in a digital age and many simply do not necessarily see analog clocks and watches as many older generations did when they grew up. It is literally a case of changing times. ‘

Students must be as relaxed as possible in an exam and it contributes to their stress if they cannot tell time, said Malcolm Trobe, deputy general secretary at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), a trade union of a main teacher.

He told the Telegraph Earlier: ‘The current generation is not so good at reading the traditional clock face as an older generation.

‘They are used to seeing a digital display of time on their phone, on their computer.

“Almost everything they have is digital, so that young people are simply exposed to time that is given digitally everywhere.”

However, telling time is still part of the National Curriculum in British schools for Key Stage One (year one and two).

Pupils must be able to tell the time by and pull their hands on a clock face to show these times, according to the government website.

They must be able to use the ‘language of time’ during the day.

Steve Chalke, founder of Oasis Charitable Trust, who runs around 50 schools, said The Times: “We use a mix of digital and traditional clocks to overcome this potential problem.”

A recent viral message on the Instagram account @endbackpain reads: “Schools remove analog clocks because teenagers can no longer read them.”

The post led to much discussion and people were furious that such a crucial life skills is no longer a given in the younger generation.

An indignant commentator wrote: “That’s why you teach them!”

“What are schools for,” agreed for a second.

A furious third said, “Failed like teachers … well done!” And another added: “Stop the earth, I want to get out …”

Others quickly shared their own experiences, as one person shared: ‘I recently called the dentist’s office and apologized to them that I would be too late.

‘My apple was 9:30, so I told her that I would be there on a quarter of 10, so the young receptionist said you’re here at 9:75? I almost died. ‘

“In my time we used to learn how they work, now you tell me that you can’t spend 5 minutes learning them about clocks?” Another wrote.

In the meantime, a study in 2019 showed that half of the young adults have difficulty telling the time on a clock surface with hands.

The Yougov survey, of more than 2000 people, evokes the possibility that smartphone generation could eventually lose the ability to read analog clock faces.

The news will come a huge blow to traditional watchmakers while their market continues to fall every year.

Experts say that the rise of smartphones and smartwatches has left more and more young people who are unable to read traditional watches.

The research is commissioned by the Marloe Watch Company, a British wristwatch designer.

The company said that digital devices had become the ‘primary’ way for young people to tell the time.

Co-founder Oliver Goffe said: ‘Generation sidewalks are our future prime ministers, teachers and doctors. The fact that they may not be able to tell time if they cannot find a telephone charger can be a problem. ‘