Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/181278
The Middle of the Road: By Randy Peters, a middle-aged, middle-income, middle-school teacher I'm "old school" by choice… you should try it Technology has become a normal part of our lives but it is not a central part of my professional or public life. Because of that I have been told recently that I am "old school." I was immediately insulted and defensive. After all, my parents were "old school." I am not! Even though I don't have a need for my phone to be attached to me all day long, I do value my cell phone. Recently my adequate flip phone died. Now I have a smart phone that came with many apps. Of course, I have no reason to have all those apps. I am not sure what they all do. I don't want to open them because I just know they will create more problems than they solve. Why are there games on my phone? Who has time for games? I don't know why those birds are so angry and, frankly, what am I supposed to do about it? Do I really need my phone to immediately let me know when someone posts a picture of their dinner? Why do I need to know the precise temperature of the city I'm in? If it's hot, I'll take off my jacket. If everything is wet, I'll know it's raining. I don't need my phone to tell me if it's raining. Does that make me "old school?" I don't go to book stores anymore. If there is a book I want to read, I'll go to the website for Barnes and Noble. I'll order the book and start reading in within minutes on the Nook app for my iPad. I can make the type really big so I can read it without my glasses. Now, who can call me "old school?" I have an artist friend who somehow paints using her iPad. I don't know how she does that. My wife has used my iPad to talk with our children who live far away. She can even see them and they see her. I don't know how she does that. My role is to stand behind her and wave to our kids from time to time. OK, that may be a little "old school." I do have a Facebook account. I used to record my daily actions on it, but now I read a lot more than I write. I have enjoyed getting in touch with friends from years ago and have spent time catching up. I have found some of the writing to be intriguing. Some of it reminds me of the case studies and observations dissected in anthropology and sociology textbooks. Do people think that no one will react to what they've written? I've read some comments about people recently on different pages of Facebook. I wonder if these people would say the same thing if the person in question is standing there. What if that person's wife, husband, or children were standing there? When did the person driving badly, the store clerk having a bad day, the teacher who is struggling to reach a student, the cop who is just doing his job become a public figure and available for gossip and judgment? Does questioning this use of technology make me "old school?" When I started teaching, I used white chalk. On special occasions I pulled out the colored chalk even though I knew that it would take extra time and effort to erase it from the chalkboard. I ran copies of worksheets on the ditto machine that was hand-cranked and made my hands blue. I had no way to make a phone call from my classroom. But now, I can e-mail lesson plans; I make files and worksheets available on my classroom website; I can lecture my students using computer-aided presentations that I can run by remote anywhere in the classroom. Me? Old school? Maybe, but I think the difference is that I CAN use technology; I just don't have to. Once we realize that by editing the use and purpose of technology, we can honor it and maintain our humanity. Keep your eyes on the road. Success made simple. HIGH QUALITY • HIGH STANDARDS • INTERIOR & EXTERIOR 3rd Generation Painter Contracting For Over 29 Years Minor Repairs: Exterior Wood & Stucco, Interior Drywall, Wood Trim Specialty Coatings: Faux Finish, Venetian Plaster, Cabinet Refinishing Thank you in advance for the opportunity to give you Lic. #423807 a free estimate! 909-208-6142 Bonded 10 OUR YUCAIPA | OCTOBER 2013 Advertise with the best. Promote your business in Our Yucaipa, Sun Lakes Lifestyles, Four Seasons Breeze or Beaumont Now! 909-797-3647