The effort by Harford County Public Schools to increase digital access for students and more fully incorporate computer technology into the learning process is an important advance.
But as such digital advances are made, it will be increasingly important for school system leaders to ensure that important elements of the learning process are not left behind.
Teaching students how to easily access information and use various technological tools available on computers, tablets and smartphones is important, but it is no substitute for teaching the basics of how to think rationally and how to figure things out for yourself.
Being able to use a smartphone has become important. But some fundamentals, such as using a pen to write a message, or figure out a long division problem with pencil and paper will remain important a while longer.