The document presents a series of quotes from various educational organizations spanning 1703 to 1985, each complaining about students' reliance on new technologies for writing and calculation compared to traditional methods. The quotes show that with every new technology introduced, from paper and ink to ballpoint pens and calculators, educators worried students were becoming too dependent without learning older techniques. The document concludes that despite changes, people will always find something new to complain about.

1. Technology and Education

2. "Students today can’t prepare bark
to calculate their problems. They
depend upon their slates which are
more expensive. What will they do
when their slate is dropped and it
breaks? They will be unable to
write.
-Teachers Conference, 1703

3. "Students today depend upon paper too much.
They don’t know how to write on slate without
getting chalk dust all over themselves. They
can’t clean a slate properly. What will they do
when they run out of paper?”
-Principal’s Association, 1815

4. "Students depend too much on ink. They
don’t know how to use a pen knife to sharpen
a pencil. Pen and ink will never replace the
pencil."
-National Association of Teachers, 1907

5. "Students today depend upon store bought ink.
They don’t know how to make their own. When
they run out they will be unable to write words
or ciphers until their next trip to the
settlement. This is a sad commentary on
modern education.
-The Rural Teacher, 1929

6. "Students today depend upon these expensive fountain
pins. They can no longer write with a straight pen and nib
(not to mention sharpening their own quills). We parents
must not allow them to wallow in such luxury to the
detriment of learning how to cope in the real business
world, which is not so extravagant.“
-PTA Gazette, 1941

7. "Ball point pens will be the ruin of
education in our country. Students
use these devices and then throw
them away. The virtues of thrift and
frugality are being discarded. Business
and banks will never allow such
expensive luxuries."
-The Federal Teacher, 1950

8. "Students today depend too much on
hand-held calculators."
-Anonymous, 1985

9. Today we still use pens, pencils
and calculators. Now we have
computers which make our lives
even easier and I’m sure that no
matter what changes happen in
the future someone will
complain about it.

10. Attribution
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/velkr0/3472576304/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/benwatts/4596573765/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/41972750@N02/4037284311/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/rakeshashok/5068970874/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/howlsthunder/5986477278/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/booleansplit/4211421316/