The document presents concerns from teachers and administrators over several centuries about students' dependence on new technologies for writing and calculation. In 1703, slates were seen as too expensive and fragile compared to using bark for calculations. In 1815 and 1907, ink and pens were criticized as distracting students from learning to write with slate and sharpen pencils. Concerns continued in later decades over store-bought ink, fountain pens, ballpoint pens, and handheld calculators replacing traditional methods. Overall, the document suggests that while technologies change over time, each new method of writing or calculation is met with complaints about students relying too much on convenience over traditional skills.

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. Picture 1 by mrstg.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28083698@N07/
Picture 2 by Bluebonnet.
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Picture 3 by Dovehowar
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Picture 4 by Makenzie Miller.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/makenziemiller14/
Picture 5 by Pigpogm.
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11. Picture 6 by Digital Paradox.
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Picture 7 by Makenzie Miller.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/makenziemiller14
Picture 8 by Makenzie Miller.
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Picture 9 by Makenzie Miller.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/makenziemiller14/