Over the past 300 years, educators have complained about students' dependence on new writing and calculating technologies. Quotes from 1703 to 1950 criticize slates, paper, ink pens, fountain pens, ballpoint pens, and handheld calculators as luxuries that distract from learning. However, the passage notes that we still use pens, pencils and calculators today, and computers have made our lives even easier, showing that technological changes will always be met with some complaints.