Technology BeliefsTechnology Beliefs

““Students today can’t prepare Students today can’t prepare bark to calculate their problems. bark to calculate their problems.

They depend upon their slates They depend upon their slates which are more expensive. What which are more expensive. What will they do when the slate is will they do when the slate is dropped and it breaks? They will dropped and it breaks? They will

be unable to write.”be unable to write.”

...Teachers’ Conference, 1703 ...Teachers’ Conference, 1703

““Students today depend upon paper Students today depend upon paper too much. They don’t know how to too much. They don’t know how to

write on a slate without getting chalk write on a slate without getting chalk dust over themselves. They can’t clean dust over themselves. They can’t clean

a slate properly. What will they do a slate properly. What will they do when they run out of paper?”when they run out of paper?”

...Principals’ Association, 1815 ...Principals’ Association, 1815

““Students today depend too much Students today depend too much upon ink. They don’t know how to upon ink. They don’t know how to

use a pen knife to sharpen a use a pen knife to sharpen a pencil. Pen and ink will never pencil. Pen and ink will never

replace the pencil!”replace the pencil!”

...National Association of ...National Association of Teachers, 1907Teachers, 1907

““Students today depend too much Students today depend too much upon store bought ink. They don’t upon store bought ink. They don’t

know how to make their own. When know how to make their own. When they run out of ink, they will be unable they run out of ink, they will be unable to write words or cipher until their next to write words or cipher until their next

trip to the settlement. This is a sad trip to the settlement. This is a sad commentary on modern times.”commentary on modern times.”

...Rural American Teacher, 1929...Rural American Teacher, 1929

““Students today depend upon these Students today depend upon these expensive fountain pens. They can no expensive fountain pens. They can no longer write with a straight pen and longer write with a straight pen and nib (not to mention sharpening their nib (not to mention sharpening their

own quills). We parents must not allow own quills). We parents must not allow them to wallow in such luxury to the them to wallow in such luxury to the detriment of learning how to cope in detriment of learning how to cope in

the real business world, which is not so the real business world, which is not so extravagant.”extravagant.”

...PTA Gazette, 1941 ...PTA Gazette, 1941

““Ball point pens will be the ruin of Ball point pens will be the ruin of education in our country. Students use education in our country. Students use

these devices and then throw them these devices and then throw them away! The American virtues of thrift away! The American virtues of thrift and frugality are being discarded. and frugality are being discarded.

Business and banks will never allow Business and banks will never allow such expensive luxuries.”such expensive luxuries.”

...Federal Teacher, 1959 ...Federal Teacher, 1959

““Calculators will be the ruin of Math Calculators will be the ruin of Math Education. Students will never learn Education. Students will never learn

Math concepts. How will they calculate Math concepts. How will they calculate when they don’t have their calculator when they don’t have their calculator

with them?”with them?”

...Some Teachers, Today ...Some Teachers, Today

““Technology is essential in teaching and learning Technology is essential in teaching and learning mathematics; it influences the mathematics that is taught mathematics; it influences the mathematics that is taught and enhances students’ learning. Students can develop and enhances students’ learning. Students can develop deeper understanding of mathematics with the appropriate deeper understanding of mathematics with the appropriate use of technology. Technology can help support use of technology. Technology can help support investigation by students in every area of mathematics investigation by students in every area of mathematics and allow them to focus on decision making, reflection, and allow them to focus on decision making, reflection, reasoning, and problem solving. The existence, versatility, reasoning, and problem solving. The existence, versatility, and power of technology make it possible and necessary to and power of technology make it possible and necessary to reexamine what mathematics students should learn as reexamine what mathematics students should learn as well as how they can best learn it.” well as how they can best learn it.”

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics , 2000National Council of Teachers of Mathematics , 2000