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The Future of Work Is Uncertain, Schools Should Worry Now

posted by mrpg on Thursday December 14 2017, @11:20PM   Printer-friendly
from the robot-scare-fad dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

Weep for the future?

Today's 6th graders will hit their prime working years in 2030.

By that time, the "robot apocalypse" could be fully upon us. Automation and artificial intelligence could have eliminated half the jobs in the United States economy.

Or, plenty of jobs could still exist, but today's students could be locked in a fierce competition for a few richly rewarded positions requiring advanced technical and interpersonal skills. Robots and algorithms would take care of what used to be solid working- and middle-class jobs. And the kids who didn't get that cutting-edge computer science course or life-changing middle school project? They'd be relegated to a series of dead-end positions, serving the elites who did.

Alternatively, maybe Bill Gates and Elon Musk and the other big names ringing the alarm are wrong. A decade from now, perhaps companies will still complain they can't find employees who can read an instruction manual and pass a drug test. Maybe workers will still be able to hold on to the American Dream, so long as they can adjust to incremental technological shifts in the workplace.

Which vision will prove correct?

30 years into the Information Revolution and schools are only just now realizing they should teach kids how to code...

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 15 2017, @07:27AM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 15 2017, @07:27AM (#610173)

    Word to the wise: Proctology. Can't out-source sticking a finger up your butt! Recession proof. And the hours are reasonable, never on-call at all hours. If I were a young person in search of a trade, it would either be proctology or jmorris.

  • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Friday December 15 2017, @09:42AM

    by FatPhil (863) <reversethis-{if.fdsa} {ta} {tnelyos-cp}> on Friday December 15 2017, @09:42AM (#610211) Homepage
    They're half way there: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boong-Ga_Boong-Ga
    --
    Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves

  • (Score: 2) by Unixnut on Friday December 15 2017, @10:57AM (1 child)

    by Unixnut (5779) on Friday December 15 2017, @10:57AM (#610233)

    Good point!

    Actually I would add dentistry and hygienists to that. They need fine motor control, a medical background, good manners to deal with patients, and there is no shortage of work (people always need their teeth done, especially hygienists as that is "maintenance work" that needs to be done every 6-12 months). I don't see robotic dentists/hygienists any time soon

    Also, I think it would be preferable to stick my fingers in peoples mouths all day, rather than their ass, but that depends on the individuals proclivities

  • (Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Friday December 15 2017, @09:01PM

    by Phoenix666 (552) on Friday December 15 2017, @09:01PM (#610460) Journal

    Obviously you haven't heard of Fisto [wikia.com].

    --
    Washington DC delenda est.