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The Voice, Kindersley, SK (2026)

10/04/2026

Kindersley's Tim Kachmarski sweeps provincial trapshooting titles

The 2026 Amateur Trapshooting year ended August 31, 2026. The Kindersley Claybusters Trap Shooting Club is happy to say that we had five shooters who took part in the 2026 Registered Shoots. They were Dan Kachmarski, Tim Kachmarski, Brooke Kachmarski, Terry Maksymiw and Ray Varty. These five shooters travel throughout Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba from September 1 of one year until August 31 of the next, competing. Kindersley Claybusters is proud to host a three-day shoot at the end of July each year. This year, more than 19,000 targets were thrown at our shoot.

The Claybusters shoot at the Kindersley Wildlife Federation gun range on Wednesday evenings or Sunday afternoons, weather permitting. Everyone is welcome to come out and enjoy some shooting. Skill level is not important. Our shooters are happy to help anyone who wants to better their skills, just have fun, or try it for the first time.

The Saskatchewan Provincial Championships were held in Regina on July 9-12, 2026. Local shooters attending were Brooke Kachmarski, Tim Kachmarski, Terry Maksymiw and Dan Kachmarski.

Brooke Kachmarski was the 2026 Lady 1 Handicap Champion. Terry Maksymiw was the 2026 Doubles Veteran Champion. Dan and Tim Kachmarski won the Parent/Child category.

Tim Kachmarski was the 2026 Sask. Singles Champion, 2026 Sask. Doubles Champion and 2026 Sask. Handicap Champion. The last time one person won all three categories was in 1969. Tim was also the High All Around Champion and the High Over All Champion for 2026.

The Canadian Championship Shoot was held in Edmonton in June 2026. Dan, Brooke and Tim took part. The weather was terrible. It was rainy, windy and cold, with shooters literally standing in water on the shooting stations. Tim took home the trophies for Doubles Runner-Up and High All Around Class AA.

During the shoot year, Dan shot 10,500 targets, Tim shot 8,100, Terry shot 6,800, Brooke shot 4,500 and Ray shot 300. The season was busy, with a lot of travelling involved.

We have already started the 2027 shoot year and will keep shooting locally until the weather makes it impossible.

📸 𝙋𝙃𝙊𝙏𝙊: 𝘛𝘪𝘮 𝘒𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘬𝘪 𝘰𝘧 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟨 𝘚𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢, 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘈𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘱 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘤𝘳𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘷𝘢𝘴𝘦. 𝘏𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝟣𝟫𝟨𝟫 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘋𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘱 𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳.

10/04/2026

JUST A GAL FROM GLIDDEN
Apparently, I’m a senior now

By Kate Winquist

I did a thing last week.

It was one of those spontaneous ADHD decisions. I was at home with my feet up, scrolling aimlessly through my phone, when I came across a Facebook post from a friend wondering if anyone wanted to join her Wednesday afternoon bowling league. She was looking for four teammates.

I immediately sent her a private message.

“Bowling? Sounds like fun!”

“R u in?”

Well, why wouldn’t I be?

The Kindersley Bowl-A-Drome was where I learned to bowl in the YBC leagues. I enjoyed it. I also liked getting those little badges and selling chocolate-covered almonds for fundraisers.

Actually, I think my Dad bought most of those. He may have had a wee bit of a sweet tooth.

I even had my picture in the Kindersley Clarion one year for bowling the high single. I’m sure I clipped it out and have it tucked away somewhere.

Martina Heine, Patty Wagner, Andrew Richardson, Jack Mullock... those are some of the names I remember from my YBC days.

A few years later, when I was in Grade 11 — I think it was Grade 11 — I joined an adult bowling league. The Liquor Board team, to be exact.

There was Trina Koska and her dad, Steve, who managed the Liquor Store, along with Joe Shedlowski, Herb Cullen and Bonnie.

Sorry, Bonnie. I cannot for the life of me remember your last name!

I do remember having fun, though. And a lot of teasing.

After college, I landed a job in Lethbridge. I didn’t know a soul in the city other than the people I worked with, who were all quite a bit older than me.

It was 1990. I was 21 years old and needed something to do.

So naturally, I joined a ladies’ evening bowling league.

They told me there were two ladies looking for another teammate. Great! Sign me up.

I arrived the first night and met Alice and Irma, whose combined ages were probably at least 160.

They were wonderful.

Both widowed and the best of friends, they were also complete opposites. Alice was a hoot. Looking back, she reminded me a little of Sophia from The Golden Girls. She had a great sense of humour and could be just a wee bit crass.

Irma was very prim and proper and wouldn’t say you-know-what if her mouth was full of it.

Somehow, the three of us made quite the team.

I only bowled with them for one season, but at the wind-up banquet I won the trophy for high single.

I originally remembered that game as a 292, but after doing a little digging, I discovered I had sold my 21-year-old self short.

It was 330.

THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY!

I don’t know who that woman was, but apparently she could bowl.

Fast forward 36 years.

Yes, I enthusiastically agreed to join this Wednesday afternoon bowling league. We found enough people for a team and everything was set.

There was just one small detail I hadn’t bothered to investigate.

I never actually asked what league I was joining.

Then another Facebook post from the Bowl-A-Drome appeared on my phone.

SENIORS BOWLING LEAGUE — NEW MEMBERS WELCOME!

Excuse me?

SENIORS?!

When on earth did that happen?

Apparently sometime between Alice and Irma and me needing to Google whether Motrin and Advil are the same thing.

We bowled our first three games this week and, just to really drive home how much time has passed, my grand total was…

299.

Not one game.

All three games.

At 21, I bowled a 330 single. At 57, I couldn’t match it with three games combined.

I’m pretty sure a 299 triple wouldn’t even have earned me a green badge in YBC.

I did, however, get the high score on our team in Game 2 with a mighty 128, thanks to a strike and spare in the final frame.

Still got it!

Well... parts of it.

The Bowl-A-Drome has changed since my YBC days, too. There’s electronic scoring now. No more keeping track with pencil and paper.

I imagine that change happened quite some time ago and I’m just a little behind the times.

Again: apparently I’m a senior.

I also used to own my own bowling shoes. I mentioned this to Robert, wondering aloud whatever happened to them.

Apparently he threw them out before we moved to Kindersley.

Those could have been the secret to my 330!

My teammate Adair has her own bowling balls, so naturally I tried them.

Maybe it was all in my head, but I swear I bowled better with Adair’s balls.

You can probably imagine where the conversation went from there.

“I like playing with your balls, Adair.”

Hey, we’re seniors. We’re allowed.

The funniest part is Adair admitted she didn’t buy them because they improved her game. She bought them because they were pretty pink and matched her bowling shoes — or at least the laces.

Now that is the kind of serious athletic commitment I can get behind.

I will admit I was a little stiff and sore afterward. A couple of Motrin helped and I’m considerably less creaky today.

Nothing says “athlete in her prime” quite like requiring anti-inflammatories after three games of five-pin bowling.

But you know what?

It was good to get out.

I laughed. I got some exercise. I spent an afternoon with some great people and rediscovered something I hadn’t done in years.

And next Wednesday, I’ll go back and do it again.

Maybe I’ll improve.

Maybe I’ll buy myself some pretty bowling shoes.

Maybe Adair will let me play with her balls again.

And somewhere up above, I have a feeling Alice is laughing her head off while Irma is absolutely horrified.

Apparently, this seniors thing might be fun after all.

10/03/2026

Former Marengo principal looks back on decades teaching in the North

By Joan Janzen

Wayne Cormier spent the final years of his lengthy teaching career at Westcliffe School in Marengo, where he was the principal from 2000 to 2004. After his retirement he enjoyed living in Marengo prior to moving to Eatonia Oasis Living (EOL) a few years ago. As Canada marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Wayne took time to reminisce about his many years of teaching Cree, Dene and Métis students.

Although he has spent more than forty years in Saskatchewan, he is originally from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where he received his elementary, high school and university education.

He attended Saint Mary's University in Halifax, where he attained a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education and a Master's in Philosophy.

"When I took my Bachelor of Education I was told only two out of four graduates would get a job in Nova Scotia. They had an overabundance of students and an underabundance of positions," he explained. However, he was told if he was willing to travel, a position could be found.

In 1974 he was driving taxi at night and received an offer to teach at Reindeer Lake, located 220 km north of La Ronge, Saskatchewan.

The Nova Scotian said he didn't even know how to spell Saskatchewan, much less have time to find out what it was like there. Nevertheless, the pressure of student loans motivated him to make the move while finishing his degree.

"I said to my mother if it doesn't work out, I'll be back in three weeks," he recalled. But he ended up becoming a permanent Saskatchewan resident.

At his home in Nova Scotia, Wayne lived close to the ocean and said he spent half his life swimming. "I still miss the ocean," he said. "I got quite a shock at the 40 below temperatures. I learned the hard way and froze my hands pushing a gentleman's car out of the ditch."

"I was a high school-qualified teacher and my first experience was teaching a Grade 3 class. They spoke mostly Cree, and very little English. It was very interesting," he said.

Four years later he got his first principalship at Canoe Lake, about 130 km northeast of Meadow Lake, where he taught Grade 8.

"There were lots of rivers and lakes. Not salt water, but it was good enough," he said. His students were farm kids who valued their education.

A few years later he moved to a reserve in Buffalo River, about an hour and a half west of Buffalo Narrows, and ended up staying for seven years.

There he taught the Dene people, who spoke English at school but spoke Dene amongst themselves, and the elders of the reserve ensured the students worked hard and were honest.

"The Dene people have a real soft spot in my heart because they were so honest. I got to make some really good friends there, people I call my brothers and sisters. I still keep in touch with some of them," he said. He also learned some of the language.

Life on the reserve included lots of hunting for moose and cougar, fishing and trapping, and they enjoyed curling, baseball, bingo and playing cards. "In winter dog racing was a big thing," he added.

The following years of his teaching career were spent at a Métis community in Sandy Bay, Saskatchewan, near Flin Flon. "It was a bigger school, more students, more problems with drugs and stuff," he recalled.

This was followed by two years spent at Turnor Lake, south of La Ronge. And prior to moving to Marengo, he taught for a number of years at a Métis community at Green Lake, east of Meadow Lake.

Wayne loved his teaching journey, which began in Reindeer Lake and concluded in Marengo. "I was amazed how dedicated the students were, and their parents made sure they knew they were there for their education in most of those places," he recalled.

"Teaching was fun. It was fun when they saw what you were teaching and they got it. And there was good staff in all those places."

Wayne loved living in his log home in Marengo, and because he was a teacher at heart, he spent much of his retirement reading and studying.

Although he would rather be living in his log home, he said he feels very fortunate to be living at EOL, where the staff, board, directors and community are very supportive.

"It's just amazing the support they have for us," he said.

Thanks for sharing your teaching journey with us, Wayne.

📸𝙋𝙃𝙊𝙏𝙊: 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘞𝘢𝘺𝘯𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘌𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘖𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘯.
𝘗𝘏𝘖𝘛𝘖 𝘉𝘠 𝘑𝘖𝘈𝘕 𝘑𝘈𝘕𝘡𝘌𝘕

10/03/2026

Kindersley child shares story of courage after two-year battle with brain tumour

Five-year-old Ghio is one of the Miracle Children being featured by Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital

A young Kindersley boy and his family are sharing their story after a two-year journey through brain surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

Ghio, of Kindersley, was just five years old when his family first noticed something wasn’t right. He began stumbling into doors and losing his balance — symptoms that would eventually lead to the discovery of a three-centimetre brain tumour.

In July 2024, Ghio began experiencing severe headaches and daily vomiting. Although initial test results came back normal, his symptoms continued to worsen. He developed double vision, struggled with his balance and began falling frequently.

An ophthalmologist eventually discovered pressure behind Ghio’s eyes that was pinching a nerve. His family was told to take him immediately to Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon for a CT scan.

Ghio was subsequently diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumour.

Following his diagnosis, Ghio underwent two urgent surgeries and began an intensive treatment plan that included radiation and chemotherapy.

After a gruelling two-year battle, Ghio recently reached a milestone his family had been waiting for — the end of his treatment.

Surrounded by his family and medical team in the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital theatre, Ghio celebrated completing treatment and overcoming his brain tumour.

Now, the Kindersley youngster is one of the Miracle Children whose stories are being shared in support of the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Radiothon, presented by CIBC Wood Gundy.

The Radiothon will take place November 4 and 5, sharing the stories of children and families from across Saskatchewan who have received care at the province’s children’s hospital.

Donations made through the Radiothon help support specialized equipment, programs and care for Saskatchewan children.

Ghio’s Miracle Story is sponsored by Co-op Hail Insurance.

More information about Ghio’s story and the Radiothon can be found through the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Kindersley’s Ghio is one of the Miracle Children being featured ahead of the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Radiothon on Nov. 4 and 5. After being diagnosed with a three-centimetre brain tumour in 2024, Ghio underwent two surgeries followed by radiation and chemotherapy.

After a two-year battle, he recently celebrated the end of his treatment surrounded by his family and medical team.

📸 𝙋𝙃𝙊𝙏𝙊: 𝘊𝘖𝘜𝘙𝘛𝘌𝘚𝘠 𝘑𝘐𝘔 𝘗𝘈𝘛𝘛𝘐𝘚𝘖𝘕 𝘊𝘏𝘐𝘓𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘕’𝘚 𝘏𝘖𝘚𝘗𝘐𝘛𝘈𝘓 𝘍𝘖𝘜𝘕𝘋𝘈𝘛𝘐𝘖𝘕

10/03/2026

Perfect 29! Wayne Becker hits cribbage’s rarest hand

It wasn’t just an ordinary crib night at Caleb Village for resident Wayne Becker.

Wayne was all smiles last week after being dealt the ultimate cribbage hand — a perfect 29.

The elusive 29-point hand requires three fives and a jack in the player’s hand, with the cut card revealing the fourth five — in the same suit as the jack. With all the combinations of fifteens, pairs and the jack matching the cut card’s suit, it adds up to the highest possible hand in cribbage.

Congratulations, Wayne, on a hand most crib players can go a lifetime without seeing!

And Wayne... with luck like that, it might just be a good day to buy a lottery ticket.

📸 𝙋𝙃𝙊𝙏𝙊: 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘣 𝘝𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘞𝘢𝘺𝘯𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝟤𝟫-𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬. 𝘚𝘜𝘉𝘔𝘐𝘛𝘛𝘌𝘋 𝘗𝘏𝘖𝘛𝘖

10/02/2026

Leader RCMP investigating attempted theft

On October 2, 2026, Leader RCMP received notification that the truck believed to be involved in a fuel theft was parked in Sceptre, SK.

Police responded to the area and located and arrested two suspects. During a search of the truck, officers located and seized a loaded fi***rm, 107 grams of psilocybin, a fi***rm silencer, drug trafficking paraphernalia, a counterfeit fi***rms Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL), and a weapon.

As a result of investigation, 32-year-old Vincent Zeller from Pennant, SK and 33-year-old Lacey Mandel from Lethbridge, AB have been charged with:

one count, unauthorized possession of a fi***rm, Section 91(1), Criminal Code;

one count, possession of a fi***rm when knowing possession unauthorized, Section 92(1);

one count, unauthorized possession of a prohibited device, Section 91(2), Criminal Code;

two counts, possession of weapon for dangerous purpose, Section 88(1), Criminal Code;

one count, mischief under $5,000, Section 430(4), Criminal Code;

one count, careless use/storage of a fi***rm, Section 86(2), Criminal Code;

one count, possession of a fi***rm and am******on in a motor vehicle, Section 94(1), Criminal Code;

one count, possession of a forged document, Section 368(1)(d), Criminal Code; and

one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking - psilocybin, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

They are scheduled to appear in Swift Current Provincial Court on October 5, 2026 (Information #90565834).

Leader RCMP continue to investigate.

09/29/2026

Town of Kindersley council approves daycare permit

By Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Your West Central Voice

KINDERSLEY – Parents in and around the Town of Kindersley appear to have another option for childcare as town council approved a permit for a daycare centre. The resolution was passed at the Sept. 28 regular meeting of council.

Manager of Infrastructure and Development Chad Levitt presented councillors with a discretionary-use development permit application for a daycare located at 300 8th Ave. West in town.

Levitt noted that the neighbourhood in question is zoned to accommodate such a request. "The zone at this location is designated as R1-low density residential district which permits daycare centres, as a discretionary use, as per Sec 5 and Sec 7.5 in the Town of Kindersley's zoning bylaw 02-22," stated the staff memo.

The bylaw included some conditions unique to daycare developments, such as any such developments located in a residential neighbourhood can't have exterior changes made that don't mesh with the neighbourhood's character, and such a development located in a residential neighbourhood must have at least 35 square feet of fenced on-site outdoor play space for each child present in the facility at any one time.

Readers should note a discretionary use development permit is one that must be first approved by council; in comparison, a permitted use is one that is typically automatically approved.

During his verbal presentation Levitt noted the building in question is also known as the "old RCMP building.”

Levitt observed staff followed standard procedure for development permits and notified neighbours within a certain radius of this application; the town received no feedback as a result. The staff recommendation was for council to approve the discretionary-use development permit for a daycare centre.

Councillors unanimously approved it with the standard conditions.

New use for an old post. The former RCMP building at the corner of 8th Avenue West and 2nd Street West in Kindersley could soon house a daycare centre after town council approved a discretionary-use development permit at its Sept. 28 meeting.

PHOTO BY KATE WINQUIST

09/28/2026

AI is a great tool but critical thinking is a survival skill

By Joan Janzen

Why do intelligent people love clever logic puzzles? Answer: Because they require critical thinking, the one thing people avoid more than cardio.

On a recent podcast, Kirk Cameron stressed the importance of kids learning critical thinking as they utilize AI. He said AI is a valuable tool, but critical thinking is a survival skill.

Kirk shared his cardiologist friend’s experience attending a session to increase his confidence in AI; however, the end result was he became more sceptical of this tool, which he loved. In order to test AI, he chose a ridiculous year in the distant future and asked AI which months contained a Friday the 13th. He also accurately calculated the correct mathematical answer in advance.

In just a matter of seconds, AI confidently announced not only a wrong answer, but an impossible answer, creating a calendar where February had 33 non-consecutive days.

“The overconfident promises of AI didn’t sit well with him,” Kirk said. “It proves AI can be wrong while sounding spectacularly confident.”

This is important for children to realize, as they belong to a generation that possesses more information than any generation in history but understands far less.

He advised that teaching kids how to ask AI questions isn’t enough; they have to understand the underlying subject well enough to recognize when AI gets it wrong.

“If they don’t understand math, how will they detect an impossible calculation?” Kirk asked. “If they don’t understand history, how will they recognize a made-up quotation from a founding father?” If they don’t understand the subject, a wrong answer can sound believable.

Young people and older people need to ask themselves if the answer makes sense, if it’s consistent, if there’s evidence to support it and if they can check original source documents.

“That requires real knowledge,” he continued to explain. “Kids need to understand grammar, mathematics, and real science and history.”

You can’t detect a counterfeit unless you know the genuine article. People are able to recognize a counterfeit hundred-dollar bill by first examining and studying authentic currency.

A wise proverb says, “Only simpletons believe everything they’re told.”

“Tools have to remain tools. If they replace good judgment, wisdom or discernment, then we become the fools,” he observed.

The future doesn’t belong to students who can ask AI questions. Anybody can do that. The future belongs to students who recognize when AI delivers a false answer with complete confidence.

“We need to teach kids how to think,” he advised. We need teachers and parents who are instructing children to think critically and pursue wisdom.

He suggested giving your kids or grandkids problems to solve without technology, and have them calculate answers in their heads.

This past summer a young man was helping his dad sell treats at a community festival. He was confidently preparing treats, giving them to customers along with the correct change he had calculated. I was amazed when he told me he was only 10 years old, and yet he was as capable as an adult.

Parents and grandparents can help train children to perform mathematical calculations in their heads and to spot counterfeits by understanding the truth.

“Teach them to think. Have them examine original source documents,” Kirk advised. “And when AI gives them answers, require them to verify its claims.”

They can do this by asking questions. How do they know it’s true? What source did they check? Can they find any contradictions? We can’t be satisfied with kids who are simply told what to think.

“We need kids who love truth more than convenience and are not intimidated or duped by confident voices,” he said.

Unfortunately, just like humans, AI has its own biases. One person commented, “ChatGPT is biased against Jews and Christians. I called it out and AI admitted it.”

A second comment offered more advice. This person wrote, “One thing I do to check the work is to ask AI a question, then start a fresh chat with the same exact question and typically get different information.”

Another individual submitted a helpful comment and wrote, “As a programmer and data analyst, AI is very useful for speeding up software development, but if you use it to replace your learning and decision making, you are in trouble.”

We have to learn how to harness and steward AI as an amazing tool; however, tools have to remain tools. If they replace good judgment, wisdom or discernment, then we become the fools.
Critical thinking will never become obsolete. And in the new age of AI, it is an essential survival skill.

𝘚𝘛𝘖𝘊𝘒 𝘗𝘏𝘖𝘛𝘖

09/28/2026

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