Technopoly Ch. 11

Ch. 11-Well we are at the end and I have to say I really appreciated how he ended it. Pg. 181 He begins by saying that when it comes to critics there are three ways they respond to what they are saying. For pink he wants to be the sort that is a wishful encouraging who knows that there are more problems then solutions, but because of his work perhaps some good will come out of it. I thought that it was kind of humbling, after all his harsh words. He puts a great emphasis on how it is through education and teachers that we can see this change. It is through the knowledge of history that we will be able to teach our children the best way to deal with this Technopoly; "every subject has a history". Throughout the chapter, Pink gives excellent quotes and examples of people and things we need and can learn from in order to make wise decisions about our future.For example I thought an excellent quote by Cicero was "To remain ignorant of things that happened before you were born is to remain a child." It is all of these that we need to be teaching our students; giving them a curriculum shows the humanity and historical development of who we are, where we came from, and how we got here. In closing I thought the greatest words Pink said was pg. 186 .."learning is for the greater glory of God." Amen may this be the way we teach our students!

Burning Question:

Pink talks about this new approach to curriculum. Do you feel this is the correct approach to take on curriculum? Why or Why not?

Technopoly Ch. 9 and 10

Chapter 9: In this chapter Postman discusses Scientism, specifically social science, in our Technopoly. One of the biggest things that stuck out to me in this chapter was on page 150 where he said "What evidence would prove that there was not a God?" Wow! This is something that I have never thought before. In order for there to be a theory there needs to be proof against it. Does this not strengthen our proof against evolution? Postman also talks about the processes (events that occur in nature) and practices (occurs because of mankind). I appreciated how he said that the processes where of Gods doing, because it is so true. Postman gives the excellent example of the blink and a wink one is nature the other is intentional. One created by God the other generated by man. Postman also looks into literature and how that has or has not played a significant role in how we view others and the world around us.

Chapter 10: In this chapter the author talks about "The Great Symbol Drain". To be perfectly honest this is something that I had never thought about, but realized how true it is. Symbols are things that are used to ignite something in a person and it has deep meaning but only for a short time. One very recent symbol Postman describes is the yellow ribbon, representing those fighting over in Iraq. I can remember when this symbol was use, my own family bought into it and had yellow ribbons on trees and on our cars. But we are still fighting that war and well the symbol has lost its meaning. Once a strong voice of support, pride, courage and honor; well now its just a yellow ribbon. We also see the truth in the author chapter by looking at the symbol of the cross. Something so meaningful, powerful, and sacred is now used so commonly. Even those who have not understanding of what it even means tattoo it on their body, wear it around there necks, and wear it on their clothes.


Burning question: In chapter 9 Postman begins the idea of leaving God out of science and thus turning to other things to sources to answer our questions. How do you see this in the world and in your classrooms?
Talks about how creation is not a theory because there is no evidence to prove there is not a God. Not something we hear a lot how do you feel about this statement?

Technopoly Ch. 7 & 8

To begin I am not quite sure I am really liking this book. Postman really seems to always be looking at the negative and over emphasizes it ...A LOT! I will give him credit thought he does bring up many thought provoking points which I do think it is good to ask.

Ch. 7-In this chapter Postman is looking at how our world is being dominated by machines, and by dominated I mean DOMINATED. He looking into the opinions of many who think that machines can do everything better than we can, thus making our lives pointless. We no longer control the machines they control us, thus they turn us into machines. Postman does give the human race credit though because he discusses how we have what computers will never have nor be able to fully understand; emotions. While reading parts of this chapter all I could think about was all those scifi movies I had seen over the years and start wondering if they were going to come into real life :) Postman also looking into a very thought provoking comment of how much we blame faults on computers. Think about it! If you have a dead line and the computer crashes many times your off the hook, go to the store and the lady at the registrar says you need to go to the next line because the computer is down we accept it. I think the best example Postman gives is referring back to the Nazi Adolf Eichmann that we had read about earlier  "We cannot dismiss the possibility that if Adofl Eichmann had been able to say that it was not he but a battery of computers that directed the Jews to the appropriate crematoria, he might never have been asked to answer for his actions."WOW!! mean WOW!! Think about that! This really opened my eyes to how much we blame technology for our problems...."The computer made me do it!"

Ch. 8-To be honest this chapter was a little tougher and more confusing for me to read. Postman looks into invisible technologies such as the number 0, IQ, and statistics. One thing that stuck out to me was his section on statistics. We use them so frequently to prove points and show what we consider to be the beliefs of people and what is true. When the truth is in all actuality you can find statistics on almost find statistics on almost anything that you want to prove whatever you want. We also need to look at how the questions are being asked. Realizing that even asking a simple yes and no truly does not show what the majority believes.

Burning Question:

Ch. 8 pg. 131 Postman talks about IQ and says"The idea that intelligence can be quantitatively measured along a single  linear scale has caused untold harm to our society in general and to education in particular." Do you agree? and Explain why?

Technopoly ch. 5 & 6

First of all I want to say I thought these chapters were really interesting it made me really think about how I few our knowledge of technology and medical technology.

Chapter 5, Postman talks about how we need defenses for the technology that is going out. He looks at how various institutions were suppose to be guarding all the information that is going out and many of them have failed to do so. He does an excellent job of comparing it to the legal system. Only some information is allowed to come in from a trial (hearsay, and opinions are not deemed credible so not to waste time.) He also talks about how this had lead to rise of bureaucracies which are hurting our nation. Postman gives an excellent example of a Nazi who tries to convince the court that he had nothing to do with the politics of the Nazi party but rather his job was just to move people around, thus he should not be punished for what he did, since he technically never killed anyone.The author compares this to how a bureaucracy is today; the idea that I am only responsible for my part and nothing else.

Chapter 6, He begins looking at medical technology and how it has impacted our world. When looking over the course of history we see how doctors have moved from basing their diagnosis on what the patients said and examining their body as to now they just say what does the technology say. In fact, Postman moves to argue that Dr.'s in someway don't even listen to their patients at all, thus leading to more deaths and misdiagnosis. Puts a whole new meaning to bedside manor. Postman looks at several different technologies that have come into being and the pros and cons that have come forth. Sadly, from the authors perspective there are more negative them positive. I have to say this was very eye opening and made me really consider that the next time I go I will defiantly be asking more questions before anything is given to me or done. I also feel that this why we need more Christians to go into the profession of medicine.

Burning Questions: Would American Medicine be better if not totally reliant on technology?
From Chp. 5 Isn't everything done with and from a human purpose?

Technopoly ch. 3 & 4

Chapter 3, Postman gives examples from our past and how we have changed with the invention of technology. Postman looks at soceities that are technocracy ("loosely controlled by social and religious constums but driven with and impulse to invent:) and a technoplogies (find their lives meanings in technology) I personally think that Postman went really deep and has a "dark" view of our society. But I also have to admit that there is truth behind what he is saying. Pg. 52 Postmans says "That human beings are in a sense worth less than thier machinery." I think that in some ways our society does demonstrate this. I quickly move jobs and change lives around technology, we give up personal relationships to have tech based relationships, and would rather spend more time with technology then with nature or people. We do treat ourselves and others a worth less than technology. Postman also identifies 4 reasons why a technopoly has developed here in America?
1. American Character
2. Genius and Audacity of American captialists
3.No other reason to look for fulfillment, creativity or purpose
4.Lost confidence in old belief systems

Chapter 4, To start off this chapter Postman said a couple quotes that really through me for a loop: "Social Science is a vigourous ally of Technopolgy and must therefore be regarded with a hostile eye." and "there is no idea so stupid that you can't find a professor who will believe it." Sadly I think he is right, how often do we see ads on T.V backed up by "Doctors" and ''Professors" that claim things we know to be false. On Pg. 60 Postman also compares technocracy and the information that came from it as a genie proclaiming information to be the god of new culture, and that this genie was a deciever. I made the connection/comparison to that of Satan as a serpent. He claimed in some ways the same thing, the knowledge that only God could have. Satan decieved Eve, and information has decieved us today.

Burning Question: What will our social skills look like 20 years from now?

Technopoly-Postman Ch. 1&2

I am currently reading Neil Postman's Technopoly for my Master's Education Class. I am currently not sure if I like this book or not :) He does brings up many thought provoking points.

Chapter One, Postman looks at a story of Socrate's and on pg 7 Postman says "But we may learn from Thamus the following: once a technology is admitted, it plays out its hand; it does what it is designed to do. Our task is to understand what that design is-that is to say, when we admit a new technology to the culture, we must do so with our eyes wide open." As others have blogged I think we need to be "optimistic skeptics." I think that this is the best way to be when it comes to technology. We can see it as a huge benefit to our studnets but also it can be a huge hinderance to thier learning as well. Postman also talkes about how technology is a hinderance to our schools, pg. 10 "..in the long run, television may bring a gradual end to the careers of schoolteachers, since school was an invention of the printing press and must stand or fall on the issue of how much importance the printed word has." I have to say this quote was kinda hard to read. I am a first year teacher and I love my job to think that technology would/could possibly replace me was sad. I agree that our studnets are losing much of that one on one experiences that are vital to communication. When you use technology to communicate and socialize you are only getting one demention. Postman also talks on pg18 how "One significant change generates total change." I thought this was a very true powerful quote, and how it applies to almost all of the technology that has been introduced, which leads to ch. 2.

Chapter Two, Postman goes through history and examines the lives and inventions of those who have added to our way of thinking and the way we live our lives. On pg. 23 Postman looks at why tools were use in cultures "But the main characteristic of all tool-using cultures is that their tools were largely invented to do two things: to solve specific and urgent problems of physical life, such as in the use of waterpower, windmills, and the heavy wheeled plow; or to serve the symbolic world of art, politics, myth, ritual,and religion, as in the construction of castles adn cathedrals and the development of the mechanical clock...tools did not attack..the dignity and integrity of the culture into which they were introduced..tools did not prevent people from believing in their traditions, in their God, in their politics, in their methods of education, or in the legitimacy of thier social organization." When you look at this chapter it is really eye opening how much this quote was true and how it did significantly affect the world and it's views. Postman also examines how theology was once the authority and that has been replaced by technology as our authority. Could this possibly be why we are in the state that we are in today? But it also made me think that we can not have technology be an excuse for all the sin. Yes it has made us more pronounced in our sin, but I think it just opened the door wider. I think that the door to those sins were cracked open and already there but only slightly visible. With the help of technology we are no longer as afraid to venture out and experiment in ways we didn't know how or never thought to once do before. The sinful heart was present but has just been given the opportunity and exuse to do what it naturally wants to do. Technology isn't the problem sin is.

My thought provoking questions are:

1. As a schoolteacher is technology going to replace our jobs?
2. Does technology make us more likely to sin? or Is our hearts already going to do it so no matter what the technology we would have still committed the sin?