Keyboarding Skills

*When should students be taught keyboarding skills-elementary or secondary?*

I believe that with the rapid change of technology, students should be taught keyboarding skills at a younger age. At my high school, we were taught keyboarding skills in the 9th grade. That was great 6 years ago, but now students are beginning to use computers/keyboards in the classrooms and labs in earlier grades. I recently completed service learning at an 8th and 9th grade school where they were undergoing a laptop initiative program. The students I worked with barely knew how to type. A few knew close to the proper way to type, but most were "chicken-pecking!" I think this just goes to show that if students are going to be using computers/keyboards at younger ages, then they should be taught keyboard skills at an elementary level. I don't mean kindergarten, but maybe around 5th grade. It is a very important skill to possess, so I believe it should also be a requirement.