What If . . .
Students today can’t prepare bark to calculate their problems Students today can’t prepare bark to calculate their problems. They depend on their slates which are more expensive. What will they do when the slate is dropped and it breaks? They will be unable to write!
Teacher’s Conference 1703
Students today depend on paper too much Students today depend on paper too much. They don’t know how to write on a 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
Students today depend too much upon ink Students today depend too much upon 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
Students today depend upon store bought ink Students today depend upon store bought ink. They don’t know how to make their own. When they run out of ink 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 American Teacher 1928
Students today depend on these expensive fountain pens Students today depend on these expensive fountain pens. They can no longer write with a straight pen and nib. 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
Ballpoint pens will be the ruin of education in our country Ballpoint pens will be the ruin of education in our country. Students use these devices and then throw them away. The American values of thrift and frugality are being discarded. Business and banks will never allow such expensive luxuries.
Federal Teachers 1950
You can’t use those calculators on the test You can’t use those calculators on the test. If I let you do that, you wouldn’t ever learn how to use the tables in the back of the book and use interpolation to figure out your trig ratios.
High School Math Teacher 1980
We can’t let them use calculators in middle school We can’t let them use calculators in middle school. If we do, they’ll forget how to do long division or how to multiply three digit numbers by three digit numbers. What will they do when they don’t have access to a calculator?
Middle School Math Teacher 1989
Why are you writing a grant for a classroom set of graphing calculators? We’ll never be allowed to use them and – even if we can – that’s only one class, and parents in other classes will never buy them for their students.
High School Math Teacher 1993
Why would you ever want the Internet for student use Why would you ever want the Internet for student use? It’s just the latest fad – have them use the library.
District Employee 1995
You don’t need a web page [for AHS]. Who’s ever going to look at it?
District Employee 1995
Teachers will never use email.
Teacher on a District Committee 1996
Why do you want network drops at every teacher’s desk Why do you want network drops at every teacher’s desk? You’re not thinking of getting a computer for all of them are you?
Building Administrator 1999
What can you do with an LCD Projector that you can’t do with an overhead projector?
Member of School Accountability Committee 1999
Why are we talking about students having laptops in high school Why are we talking about students having laptops in high school? I don’t think most parents will even give their kids their old computer, much less buy them a new one.
Member of Laptop Committee 2000
Why would I want to put my grades on the web Why would I want to put my grades on the web? Who’s going to look at them?
Teacher 2001
I don’t think we’ll have a wireless network at AHS anytime soon.
Me Spring 2005
Turn off and put away all Cell Phones, iPods, and Electronic Devices during class!
Signs around AHS Fall 2006
What If . . . We’d listened?