THE MORE THINGS CHANGE...
 
"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
 
"Students today depend upon paper too much. They don't know how
to write on slate without 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. 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. 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, 1929
 
"Students today depend upon these expensive fountain pens. 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
 
"Ball point pens will be the ruin of education in our country.
Students use these devices and then throw them away. The American
virtues of thrift and frugality are being discarded. Business and
banks will never allow such expensive luxuries."
Federal Teacher, 1950
 
"Students today depend too much on hand-held calculators."
Anonymous, 1995
 
Can you predict what tomorrow's argument will be?
--- Maximus 2.02
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