Knowledge is power

Across the UK, many pupils are revising for GCSEs, which means learning of by heart many facts. Neil Hallows would like to know if learning by heart is still a valued skill. It perhaps does not really matter any longer as this is the information age. We do not need to know everything because it is all on a phone or a computer. Black-cab drivers in London learn over 300 routes by heart and all the landmarks and interesting places at the same time. Their knowledge contains details about an area of a six-mile radius of Charing Cross Station. A cab driver knowing the routes by heart is already on his way, when a cab driver with a navigation system is still punching in an address. It does give a person some power, knowing facts by heart.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13333117

The article does not satisfy me. I do not find a convincing answer to the question why we should still learn things by heart. I do believe we should learn facts, but in my opinion these facts should me be folded intopractical use of this knowledge. When I was a younger student, I did not get much practice in applying the facts I learned by heart. These facts did not integrate in my existing knowledge. I think that should be learned as well, next to learning facts by heart. The most beautiful aspect of learning by heart is that in difficult times you can get comfort from a poem, psalm or other text which you once learned by heart.