This document presents quotes from various sources over 200 years that show how technology in education has consistently been viewed critically. Teachers in 1703 complained about students relying on slates instead of preparing bark to do calculations. In 1815 and 1907, principals and teachers argued students were too dependent on paper and ink instead of slate and sharpening pencils. Complaints continued in the following decades about store-bought ink, fountain pens, ballpoint pens, and handheld calculators. However, the concluding statement notes that while new technologies like computers make our lives easier, people will always find something new to complain about.

1. Technology
and
Education
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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