The use of calculators and computers in the schools is promoted. It is stated that calculators should be used in the mathematics classroom as soon as basic operations are understood. A point is made that calculators are no greater a threat to "learning the fundamentals" than slide rules, which have been available for over 350 years. It is recommended that school districts adopt a policy with guidelines in regard to the use of calculators, and that calculators be used as tools to reinforce the basic skills, not as substitutes. Calculators can be used to facilitate the use of comparison and estimation in problem solving, including real life situations, at all levels, and to teach children critical thinking. The use of the programmable calculator in a creative way is promoted and several example problems that can be quickly explored with the use of the programmable calculator are presented. (MP)