Apple Orchard Pictures

Dear Families,
What a wonderful time our class had at the Country Apple Orchard. The weather cleared up right when we arrived, which was such a blessing from the Lord. The children enjoyed every minute of the activities, but especially picking their bags full of the most beautiful red apples. We also experienced taste testing some apple juice and apples while listening to an apple story. Finally, the children enjoyed playing with the farm animals and running around on the haybales. For more pictures, click on the link on the right hand side of the page that says, "More Apple Orchard Pictures."
Feel free to save them to your computers for further printing.

Response to Chapter Eleven of Technopoly

Postman ends his writing as a defense strategy for those who want to fight against the rise of Technopoly within America. He states, “"You must try to be a loving resistance fighter. ... By 'loving' I mean that, in spite of the confusion, errors, and stupidities you see around you, you must always keep close to your heart the narratives and symbols that once made the United States the hope of the world and that may yet have enough vitality to do so again. ...” (182).
Postman continues about the importance of living within a world filled with technology, yet mastering the capability to understand that it does not, cannot, and never will rule our lives.

“A resistance fighter understands that technology must never be accepted as part of the natural order of things, that every technology--from an IQ test to an automobile to a television set to a computer--is a product of a particular economic and political context and carries with it a program, an agenda, and a philosophy that may or may not be life-enhancing and that therefore require scrutiny, criticism, and control.” (184-185).
My final question then, is, how do we do this in a fashion that demonstrates our calling to Christ within our classrooms which are ever becoming more demanding to integrate technology, etc. , especially since our students are “technology natives” in a school filled with teachers who are “technology immigrants?” Whereas our students are growing up in a world where they know no different (cell phones, ipods, etc.)? How do we begin to unravel this for them?

Response to Chapter ten of Technopoly

Carrying on Postman’s argument concerning the gone days of human endevour and progress now replaced by technological advancements, he argues that it has also effected the media world in relation towards the misuse of cultural symbols. Thus, culture is left with the difficult task of “distinguishing between the sacred and the profane.” (16/168).
I struggled through this chapter right up towards the end, questioning the entire time, “what is his point here?” Why can’t we live in a world that values symbols for what they are? OK, if they are overused to some, can’t it be stated as national pride by the others? And, the last section in which Posman refers to the fading yellow ribbons being replaced by an F-15 fighter plane- why wouldn’t we view this as a positive thing? At least we have the yellow ribbons up, demonstrating our pride for those who are dealing with the more important issues here versus the ideas Postman is referring to.

Response to Chaper Nine of Technopoly

Within Chapter Nine, Postman argues that our world has come to a state of “information overload,” especially within the areas of science, thus placing too much faith in science as the answer for every question. Thefore, our world is sifting through “fact” from “fiction,” and trying to decipher what to believe, and are essence, left more confused than when we began. In addition, Postman offers that previous writings from philosophers experiements, etc. are also not valid within a Technopoly, causing what he believes to be a real threat against humanity because we no longer place our trust in historical facts, but long for an illusion of “feel-good” behavior (159-160).
Therefore, with this information overload causing mankind to be incapable to control/make sense of all of it all, what should be our defense mechanism? Are we as Christians who are provided with the truth “immune” from all of these inabilities to interpret information, as we take it from the light of the Bible?

Response to Chapter Eight of Technopoly

Within chapter eight, Postman again exposes the reader to his view concerning how technologies are not neutral in society and are gaining momentum in our society every waning minute. The area he further explains his point of view is with the technologies such as the meaning behind the numeral zero, use a grading scale, and the intricacies of statistics. However, as I was reading through this chapter and his defenses for the negativity these areas have brought into our lives, how else could we live without them? For example, within school, it is glamorous to say we provide our students other means to demonstrate their competency, yet if we didn’t have a base grading scale, how would our schools function? scholarships? college entrances exams? Board Certification (ex. nursing, teaching, etc.).

Response to Chapter Seven of Technopoly

Within chapter seven, Postman delivers another poignant illustration of how technology has overtaken our society as we know it today within the realm of the modern-day computer. While reading through the chapter, I found myself noting often many predictions Postman offered towards what might come next in the technological revolution such as: “…computers will emerge as a new type of book” (118), “Virtual realities” (117), and “ electronic writing” (119). Well, isn’t this what defines Kindle, online virtual world sites, and the basic Microsoft Word? In addition, Postman identifies how technology will leave behind old standing traditions such as handwriting/print.
Therefore, I am curious as to how many schools still require cursive? In addition, how many of your schools teach D’Nealian (the handwriting with the little “tails” at the ends of the letters to better prepare students for cursive) versus Zaner-Bloser (typical stick-ball handwriting).

Response to Chapter Six of Technopoly

Throughout Chapter Six, Postman continues to examine how technopoly has redefined culture, especially in regards towards medical practice. For example, Postman referred American medicine as being dominated by technology, thus making it “…to be the weapon with which disease and illness would be vanquished.” (97). Therefore, the entire relationship once held between a doctor and his/her patient has been transformed towards focusing upon the disease, not the patient-using whatever means possible to cure the illness since “…doctors do not merely use technologies but are used by them.” (105).
Therefore, are we suppose to just accept the fact that our doctors are in personable due to the increase in technology? For example, on page 105, Postman states, “ Like some well-known diseases, the problems that have arisen as a result of the reign of technology came slowly and were barely perceptible at the start…through it all, the question of what was being undone had a low priority if it was asked at all.” Are we suppose to just accept all of this as progress versus taking a serious examination as to what has all happened since the overtaking of technology upon our medical world?