For most of my life, I’ve carried a physical sign that marked me as literate. At the age of 5, that sign was first acquired over weeks of laborious work under the guidance of my Kindergarten teacher as I carefully practiced forming the symbols of literacy by putting pencil to paper. For the next 12 years, as I filled pages and pads with notes, essays, reports and thoughts, that sign became a constant symbol of the work I put into my studies.
Through college, graduate school, and almost 2 decades of teaching, that sign remained. But recently, I’ve noticed that even though I write more than I probably ever have, I’m actually losing that physical reminder of my ability to write. Instead of a callused pad of skin formed from decades of balancing a pen against my finger as I write, there’s a smooth area where that callus used to be. It’s probably the most concrete example I carry of how my own mode of communicating and building knowledge is swiftly changing.
Since I’ve acquired digital writing tools – mainly a laptop and an iPhone – I rarely write more than a reminder or grocery list by hand. There are times when I spend the entire day writing, but don’t ever pick up a pen.
As look at the students who are part of our 1:1 laptop program this year, I wonder how long it will be before we see a generation who remembers fondly the scratch of ink to paper as part of an earlier era.
What will be their sign of literacy?
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March 11th, 2009 at 5:31 am
Marshall McLuhan once said that when one technology replaces an older one, the older one becomes art form. One could look at that at a quaint reminder that what is valuable will always be protected. But McLuhan seemed to be saying that when a technology becomes art form, it falls into the hands of a few, who anoint themselves guardians of the old technology and soon guardians of a former life. As guardians, they keep the rest of us out.
Since my own life as a student was hindered by poor penmanship (the callouses that I carried were from the sisters who whacked me endlessly on the back on my hands with a yard stick for my efforts), I would have (and do today) welcomed a keyboard.
Signs of literacy are in the ideas developed by use of the tools of language, regardless of the technology.
Yet, Neil Postman warned us that when we tap a new technology that makes obsolete an old skill, we will be a society full of people who cultivate the appearance of having that skill.
Does having a blog make me a writer?
Two sides to the story. Enjoyed your thought.
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March 13th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Thanks, Peter, for the comments. I especially liked your thought “Signs of literacy are in the ideas developed by use of the tools of language, regardless of the technology.”
Your reply brings to mind the book “A Canticle for Leibowitz” which I recently re-read. To me, what defines a society are the skills and principles we value more than the technologies we guard. I think McLuhan contrasts nicely with the fictional account that Walter Miller gave in his novel.
The guardians sometimes protect that which is valuable, and sometimes that which is out-dated. The advances in technology sometimes promote advancement in society and sometimes preserve the most banal portions of humanity. How do we tell which is which?
I love your ending – does having a blog make me a writer? I’d say yes and no. A blog is no more than putting electronic pen to digital paper with a potentially global audience. What is it that differentiates a blogger from the man who puts a message in a bottle and casts it to sea? Both have recorded thoughts for others. Both have an audience outside their immediate circle. Which has more value and import? Depends on the purpose and the audience I suppose….
I appreciate the opportunity to think more deeply.
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March 15th, 2009 at 8:01 am
I enjoyed reading this. At school I was somewhat of a nerd (even though at the time the term wasn’t used) and was the only kid in class who had a huge “physical sign that marked me as literate” on my middle right hand finger. Over the years I have been very proud of it. For the past ten years I have been typing more – and writing less – and it was only when I read your posting that I inspected my “sign”. It is still there, but less noticeable than before. I am determined not to loose it! Thanks for this posting.
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