The document is a collection of quotes from various teachers' conferences, principals' associations, and PTAs from 1703 to 1985 commenting on students' dependence on writing and calculating technologies of the time and predicting their downfall. It starts with students depending on slates and paper in the early 18th and 19th centuries, then ink and pencils in the late 19th/early 20th century. Later quotes discuss dependence on fountain pens, ballpoint pens, and handheld calculators. The final lines note that while technologies change, 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. - National Association
of Teachers, 1907
"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."

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
Chalk Board
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33852688@N08/4272701081/sizes/m/in/p
hotostream/
Pencil and Knife
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alancleaver/4462730033/sizes/m/in/photo
stream/
Ink Bottle
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dailylifeofmojo/3136118632/sizes/m/in/ph
otostream/
Fountain Pen
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylemccluer/4313794916/sizes/m/in/photo
stream/