Remember when Roman numerals were taught in school? Or when knowing how to read an analog clock was a necessity? These skills may seem trivial today, but there was a time when they were critical. Let’s explore five life skills that have nearly disappeared, and why learning the skills that last is more important than ever.
The seven-digit Roman numeral system was devised by the Romans in the pre-B.C. era. It wasn’t until 1931, however, that American educators advocated for Roman numerals to be taught during elementary school. Today, many schools no longer formally teach Roman numerals, but teachers may still reference them in some classes.
Even if you don’t know your Roman numerals, you might recognize them from every modern Super Bowl, including “LIX,” which took place in early 2025. You may even spot them on some clocks and government buildings. Sure, it’s good to know Roman numerals, but you may not need them in your XXI (21st) century career.
Whether you see it at city hall, a bank, or your local school, a towering analog (traditional) clock adds a sense of authority to the building. But what about the skill of actually reading an analog clock or watch?
Phones, computers, and other devices now display the time digitally by default. And without the need to read traditional clocks, “telling time” might just be a skill of the past.
Despite the shift toward digital devices, some schools are still teaching students to read analog clocks around the age of six, a practice that’s widely supported by parents.In fact, a 2021 CBS News poll showed that nearly three-quarters of Americans believe this skill should be taught in schools. But time may not be on the side of analog clocks. Parents of future schoolchildren will no longer have grown up with analog clocks and may have different views.
With the prevalence of texting and email in everyday communication, cursive writing has faded as a foundational skill. Fewer than half of U.S. states—21, to be exact—require the teaching of cursive in public schools.
Cursive handwriting, as unique to the individual as a fingerprint or DNA, helps children develop key motor skills and greater mental acuity, among other benefits. Still, a 2022 NEA Today Facebook poll showed educators divided on whether cursive is critical to young learners. Those who downplayed the importance of cursive generally felt efforts spent teaching an obsolete skill would be better placed elsewhere.
The large wooden card catalog, a fixture in libraries since at least the late 1800s, stored the basic details and location of books within the library. On each card, you could find a book’s location using the Dewey Decimal System.
Developed in 1876, this numeric system was divided into broad classes including:
Each class included multiple subcategories. But using the Dewey Decimal System required some interpretation and, for some schoolchildren, felt a bit like learning a new language.
The card catalog was declared dead by Smithsonian Magazine in 2015 when the Online Computer Library Center stopped printing the cards. The Library of Congress still houses a card catalog, however. Collectors can sometimes find the cabinets in antique stores, and the cards have been recycled or otherwise repurposed. Finding library books is much easier today. Now, we simply enter a search term into a library’s website and it provides the book’s location.
The metric system is based around units of ten and is the global standard in scientific fields. It was once taught in the U.S. as early as elementary school. But we remain one of very few countries that never adopted the metric system. (England—officially a metric country—still incorporates the “English system” that we use in the U.S.)
U.S. momentum for the switch to metric ground to a halt during the 1980s, though there have been recent renewed efforts. With our country now firmly a part of a global economy, there may be a business case to make for going metric, though none of us should hold our breath.
It may be hard to believe—or even funny to some—that these were once considered important skills. But they were.
So, are there any enduring skills that will help you in practically any career? Absolutely!
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, soft skills provide today’s jobseekers with a “competitive edge,” as they are among the skills most sought after by employers. Forbes concurs.
Durable skills, a more specific term gaining ground with experts and employers, are also in high demand. A sort of “Soft Skills 2.0,” durable skills by definition have a half-life of over 7.5 years and include:
In a study of 82 million job postings, about 70% included durable skills. These listings represented positions unlikely to be eliminated by future automation and many were leadership roles, demonstrating that durable skills can continue to benefit professionals for years.
Despite this, durable skills are in short supply among today’s job seekers, as reported by Forbes in 2022. The skills aren’t widely taught in schools, and many individuals who finish high school or even college are underprepared to enter the workforce.
While practical skills like reading an analog clock or balancing a checkbook may be fading from everyday use, they reflect a larger shift: the world no longer rewards memorization or manual know-how the way it once did.
Instead, skills like critical thinking, clear communication, and adaptability (the kind nurtured in a humanities education) are more important than ever. These aren’t relics of the past. They’re what help us navigate the future.
UT Permian Basin’s online Bachelor of Arts in Humanities is a multidisciplinary program that broadens your perspective of human history and cultures. Working with one of our faculty advisors, you can steer your studies to your specific interests by choosing two to four concentrations from areas encompassing:
As you complete your degree, you’ll develop highly sought-after—and lasting—skills that will benefit you in a career and beyond, including communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork.
Our BA in humanities program is delivered in an asynchronous, 100% online format that empowers you to maintain your professional and personal commitments while earning your degree. You can access the virtual classroom online on your own schedule from practically anywhere in the world—just like today’s library catalogs. No campus attendance is required.
Hone in-demand skills that will stay with you for life! See more details about our online BA in humanities program or apply now.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/story/is-it-still-important-to-learn-roman-numerals
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