The document presents a collection of quotes from various teachers' conferences, principals' associations, and other publications spanning from 1703 to 1985. Each quote expresses concern that students are becoming too dependent on new technologies for writing and calculation that were emerging at the time, such as slates, paper, ink, pens, pencils, calculators, and eventually computers. The final quote acknowledges that complaints about new technologies have been common throughout history but that technologies continue to make lives easier.
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
http://www.flickr.com/photos/c
aroslines/2254480335/
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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ucazappa/37872703/
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
http://www.flickr.com/photos
/shuttersparks/1413258875/
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
http://www.flickr.com/ph
otos/rossap/4160004956/
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
http://www.flickr.com/
photos/90965059@N04
/8271013076/
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. 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.
