What If . . . :What If . . .


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! :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 :Teacher’s Conference 1703


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? :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 :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. :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 :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. :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 :The Rural American Teacher 1928


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. :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 :PTA Gazette 1941


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. :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 :Federal Teachers 1950


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. :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 :High School Math Teacher 1980


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? :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 :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. :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 :High School Math Teacher 1993


Why would you ever want the Internet for student use? It’s just the latest fad – have them use the library. :Why would you ever want the Internet for student use? It’s just the latest fad – have them use the library.


District Employee :District Employee 1995


You don’t need a web page [for AHS]. Who’s ever going to look at it? :You don’t need a web page [for AHS]. Who’s ever going to look at it?


District Employee :District Employee 1995


Teachers will never use email. :Teachers will never use email.


Teacher on a District Committee :Teacher on a District Committee 1996


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? :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 :Building Administrator 1999


What can you do with an LCD Projector that you can’t do with an overhead projector? :What can you do with an LCD Projector that you can’t do with an overhead projector?


Member of School Accountability Committee :Member of School Accountability Committee 1999


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. :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 :Member of Laptop Committee 2000


Why would I want to put my grades on the web? Who’s going to look at them? :Why would I want to put my grades on the web? Who’s going to look at them?


Teacher :Teacher 2001


I don’t think we’ll have a wireless network at AHS anytime soon. :I don’t think we’ll have a wireless network at AHS anytime soon.


Me :Me Spring 2005


Turn off and put away all Cell Phones, iPods, and Electronic Devices during class! :Turn off and put away all Cell Phones, iPods, and Electronic Devices during class!


Signs around AHS :Signs around AHS Fall 2006


What If . . . :What If . . . We’d listened?