It’s funny how the world can change in 30 years. Much knowledge becomes outdated, yet “the basics" remain useful.



I remember my High School typing class. The teacher was a no-nonsense drill sergeant of an older lady, who could instill fear into the hearts of her students. Her mission was to teach not just the mechanics of typing, but to instill in her students a sense of price in their work and themselves. She always told us that typing was “a GOOD skill, not a HALF-BAKED skill". We were required to learn the keyboard through “touch" and if she caught anyone looking at their fingers, they were held up for ridicule in front of the whole class. The typewriters we used had blank keys- no letters. This was to discourage cheating.

The class consisted mainly of students in the “Business Curriculum", who would earn their living by typing, taking shorthand, and using other office skills. Interspersed were a few students whose goal was a college education, but who wanted to learn to type so that they could produce term papers faster.

To build speed, we learned to type by keeping time to a series of records. Each song, usually a selection from classical music, had the very obvious “click" of a metronome in the background. As we progressed, the song changed, and the metronome beat became faster. The songs were not the current hits of the 1970’s, and we laughed at how “square" they sounded.

At that point in my life, I really didn’t see the need to take the class so seriously. I was going to college, to study science. Who cared if I could type? But, I found myself practicing my keyboard while lying in bed, waiting for sleep. I also gained a work ethic and a will to face challenges and conquer them from the values that this teacher imparted to her class.

Today, the computer has replaced the typewriter. Gone are the days of messy jammed ribbons that blackened fingers-papers seamlessly come out of the printer. No need for those typewriter erasers, either- just use the spell-check feature on the computer, make the corrections on the screen, and VOILA! But, the basic skill of typing/keyboarding that was taught years ago is still a vital part of how I earn my living, whether I’m entering data about one of my Real Estate listings, for sale, putting items for sale up on Ebay, or sending email and communicating with my customers or my employer. Who would have thought that a class I signed up for as a “fill-in" over 30 years ago would continue to influence my life today?