A protest, led by John Saxon, opposed the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ policy to integrate calculators at all grade levels, reflecting a broader 1980s debate on technology in education, with some states like New York later mandating calculator use by 1992, while California banned them in 1997 assessments.
New technologies are often resisted with claims they will harm health, disrupt society, or destroy traditional skills.
- Personal Computers 1980s Warned to cause unemployment and dehumanization
- Automobiles 1900s Seen as dangerous death machines disrupting public safety
- Telephones 1900s Criticized for undermining face-to-face communication
- Electricity 1880s Feared as a fire hazard and unnatural disruption to daily life
- Bicycles 1880s Claimed to cause health problems and moral decline
- Typewriters 1870s Criticized for making handwriting and traditional clerical skills obsolete
- Elevators 1850s Feared as unsafe due to mechanical failure risks
- Railroads 1800s Believed to harm livestock and cause physical illness from speed
- Vaccines 1800s Opposed for violating personal freedom and religious beliefs
- Industrial Machinery 1810s Feared to destroy skilled jobs and livelihoodse