Keyboarding VS Computer Skills

Why isn’t keyboarding a computer skills class??

Our school has a mandatory keyboarding class.  This is not a bad thing. Kids learn typing skills and proper fingering which make them more efficient on the keyboard.  However, my thoughts are ….. the class is 90 minutes long, do they really need to practice fingering and timed tests for that long?  Could the time be better utilized by splitting up the block and using the first 45 minutes for keyboarding skills and the last 45 minutes for computer skills?  In today’s high tech society, students need to be able to work power point programs, manipulate text boxes, copy and paste pictures and information.  If these skills were taught in keyboarding then classroom teachers would have more options to do computer related activities in the classroom.  When teachers give students computer projects to work on during class most of the time is not spent working with students on content, but on how to work the programs, help them get the look and feel they want, show them how to access different design elements and use textboxes.  If students had these skills already it would take them less time to design their project and know what they want to include.  This would free the teachers up to make sure the content information is accurate and included.