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?

Response: Chapter Five of Technopoly

Within chapter Five, Postman reveals to the reader how the current bombardment of information has happened. He claimed there are three areas within culture that have centered upon managing and/or limiting information: academic institutions, families in the upbringing of their children, and the courts of law. However, as we see within culture today, a form of technopoly has intruded each of these areas with information encompassing all that we know, leaving us completely immune from what is occurring within the world- there is no escaping it. Postman finishes the chapter by introducing the reader towards how technopoly has redefined culture through its continued elevation of "bureaucracies, expertise, and technical machinery [as the] principle means by which Technopoly hopes to control information and thereby provide itself with intelligibility and order." (91)
How then, is this any different from Marxism as mentioned earlier in the chapter? And, to further the point, isn't there a movement for socialism and Marxists theories trying to creep its way into the American life right now with current political decisions? Maybe Postman wasn't too far off when he mentioned "...history takes a long time, and there yet may be developments that will prove Marx's vision with fresh sources of versimilitude." (81)

Response: Chapter Four of Technopoly

Within Chapter 4, Postman continues on his quest of exposing the reader towards the control technology has played upon the cultural changes throughout history. In fact, he refers this shift towards an analogy using a deck of cards. The order of a new deck of cards is predictable and known right out of the package, but if one was to shuffle the deck, you would not know what to expect next. Therefore, the true meaning of life, if not unraveled or untouched, is predictable, whereas a shuffled deck of cards is what technology has done to our lives- caused chaos, confusion, and insecurity in regards of who is in control.
Postman continued with the development of communication throughout history, beginning with the printing press. The printing press allowed for a new environment to be formed, allowing all people from all classes to equally access information, thus increasing the importance of individuality. From the printing press came to telegraph, which removed the length of time communication was passed from person to person, thus increasing the value of “barrier-free” information- “…the telegraph made information into a commodity, a ‘thing,’ that could be bought and sold irrespective of its uses or meaning.” (67/68) Following the telegraph came the introduction of photography, which created a new definition of what information was- could be print but also in picture form. The fourth stage of the information revolution included broadcasting, which led to the most current revolution, computers. Thus, Postman concludes that we are on an information overload, causing our culture be sorely confused with no direction or truth to hold the excess information against.
My question in regards to this chapter lies within the idea of what to do next- with all this information at our fingertips, bombarding us each day with updates, blogs, newscasts, etc. what is the real solution? What are we to do here? Are our hands just tied or do we stand up and say “enough!” But, then we would have to broadcast that somehow through the use of technology in order to appeal to the masses- is there ever going to be an end to this vicious cycle?

Response: Chapter Three of Technopoly

Within Chapter Three, Postman describes the cultural shift from technocracy to technopoly. Postman describes technopoly as “the submission of all forms of cultural life to the sovereignty of technique and technology…” (52). Thus, the reader is presented with an outline of the growth of technology in American history and its effects upon the culture. Although difficult to pinpoint, Postman argues the transition period from when technology served as an assistant towards technology serving as a master occurred close to the Henry Ford era and beyond. The author also offers four interrelated response for the dominance of Technolopy within America: 1) the newness of America provided many opportunities with no limits, 2) the genius thinking of American inventors and their desire for the future, not past traditions, 3) the convenience, comfort, speed, hygiene, and abundance technological advances provide for every social class is unremarkable and too good to pass up, and 4) old beliefs fell victim to new hope in technology. (53-55).
Clearly not all of the past traditions were removed from society, especially within the religious realm. Yet, Postman presents his writings in a way that I feel undermines the role God had in calling many inventors to use their minds and create- to me he does not seem in favor for how the technological shift occurred within the historical context. How else would it have happened though? Therefore, I am wondering where Neil Postman, the author, stands in relation to his worldview and religious ties. Is it preposterous to presume what his faith (if any) is?

Response: Chapter Two of Technopoly

Within Chapter Two, Postman describes what he calls three stages of how society has dealt with technological advances: 1)tool-using, 2)technocracy, and 3)technopoly. Within a tool-using culture such as the Medieval Times, tools had two simple roles- “to solve specific and urgent problems of physical life… or to serve the symbolic world of art, politics, myth, ritual, and religion…” Therefore, they were not a disruption towards the culture, just assistants. However, as cultures started to become more dependant upon these tools, there was a cultural shift towards a technocracy. Postman described technocracy as tools/technology “playing a central role in thought –world of culture” (28). Thus, inventors such as Galileo, Copernicus, and Kepler, who although not intentionally, caused a major shift towards a heavy reliance upon these objects versus reliance upon God. In other words, one could say it was the first time a separation of moral and intellectual values occurred within society.
In defense of technological advances and their positive affect upon society, why does it seem as though Postman is against the furtherance of one’s mind for the better of the world? If one does not use the gifts given to us by God, we are not following His will. Yet, Postman mentions the separation of moral and intellectual values within the technocracy era- if it wasn’t for this, would we be where we are today?

Response: Chapter One of Technopoly

Within the first chapter of Technopoly, Postman reveals to the reader the Greek legends Theuth and King Thamus discussing the idea of new inventions. We learn from Thamus that new technologies don’t always come with benefits- there can be areas for concern as well. In fact, Thamus went as far to say that “new technologies change what me mean by ‘knowing’ and ‘truth’ (12). With this theory in place, Postman introduces his writing as a way to expose society towards the way technology can alter the way we think, the things we think with, and place where our thoughts develop (20).
The question I had developing during the first chapter is the relevance of this theory, especially within a culture that is highly dominated by further advances in technology each day. Does this theory of knowing that technology alters the way we think, what we think with, and where our thoughts develop have any grip within our culture today? Would exposing society towards these ideas really have an impact upon us, or are we so far removed that we cannot and/or do not want to relate?