I found this chapter stretching the meaning I had for “technology” deeper and deeper as I progressed from page to page. On page 4, Postman goes into detail about writing being a form of technology. Then, on page 6 he talks about railways, telephone lines, ocean tankers, and hygiene, along with many other advances in our culture. I found myself realizing that I have put technology into a small box that limited itself to computers and other devices that are similar.
As Neil Postman describes the differences between winners and losers in everyday life, it made me think about the children in my classroom. This chapter helped me stretch my views, which will hopefully help me distinguish the proper technologies that I should be using (keeping one eye open, page 5). On page 17, paragraph 2, Postman says, “Over four centuries, teachers, while emphasizing print, have allowed morality its place in the classroom, and have therefore achieved a kind of pedagogical peace between these two forms of learning, so that what is valuable in each can be maximized.” How do you see computer technology coming into your school and or classroom and finding a peace between our current forms of learning?
