This document traces concerns over changing technology and education from 1703 to 1985. Early educators worried students relied too much on slates, paper, ink, and pens instead of traditional methods like preparing bark or sharpening quills. Later concerns included dependence on fountain pens, ballpoint pens, and handheld calculators. The document concludes that while tools change, people will always complain about new technologies and their impact on education, yet these technologies make life easier.

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 Rights Slide 1- suzannescomputer on photobucket Slide 2- jgbinteriors on flickr Slide 3- Britney Patterson on flickr Slide 4- clip art Slide 5- inkssplat on photobucket Slide 6- Britney Patterson on flickr Slide 7- Britney Patterson on flickr Slide 8- Britney Patterson on flickr Slide 9- suzannescomputer on photobucket