This document presents quotes from various educational conferences and publications over 300 years that express concern over students' dependence on new technologies for writing and calculation. Teachers in 1703 worried what students would do without slates. In 1815, principals were concerned about paper use and chalk dust. Pencils were criticized in 1907 for replacing pens. Rural teachers in 1929 lamented store-bought ink replacing homemade. Ballpoint pens were deemed a wasteful luxury in 1950. Handheld calculators drew anonymous criticism in 1985. Overall, the document shows that with each new technology, some have complained it undermines important skills while today we benefit from computers.

1. Technology and Education

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

10. http://www.flickr.com/photos/27291024@N02/4095012781/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/cbroders/5875248828/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/missmeng/5156675183/

11. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonas_lowgren/4638404668/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilsons9/6292481403/in/photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickulas/1437813781/

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