Running head: Technology as a Faustian Bargain 1

Technology as a Faustian Bargain

Steven Boone

Loyola University
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In his book, The End of Education, Neil Postman outlines a number of narratives used to

guide the education system. Several of the narratives he considers to be failures. Technology is

one of those narratives.

Understanding Technology

Postman is cautious of technology. Not of specific devices or tools but of technology as a

savior to all our problems. Like many, he can see the advantages. However, he believes It's

important to also be aware of its disadvantages. In Postman he argues that people’s overreliance

on technology leaves them “bereft when denied access to it.” (p. 38) This can be seen in the

reaction of most people when the Wi-Fi or internet are down. A greater problem though is

people’s lack of understanding of technology as Postman points out “for most it works in

mysterious ways.” (p.38) For so many, technology is blind faith. Despite being completely

devoted to their technology; people have no concept of how or why it works. This lack of

complete comprehension highlights Postman’s greatest concern with technology: technology’s

effects on us. While many are in awe of the newest technology, Postman reminds us that the

greater the role technology has in our lives the greater the change it has on our lives. Without

question, each new technology has changed our society for better or worse. Again, this ties into

the idea that technologies can bring both good and bad.

So many aspects of our lives are affected by new technologies. It affects our status and

perception of the world around us. Technology shows the gaps between socioeconomic classes

whether it is the physical technology, the access to it, or even the experience to efficiently use it.

(Postman, p. 47) Some are at a greater advantage than others to enjoy the benefits of technology.
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It can even change our political consumption. At one time newspapers were the best place to be

informed of a political candidate. Then the spread of television brought them into our homes.

Now, a candidate can provide moment to moment updates with social media formats like twitter.

Every major technology defines its generation because the technology seeps into so much of

their daily routine.

Technology is enticing because it can make so many things easy for us. While we are

paying attention to a new technologies’ features, we’re missing many unintended consequences

to its existence. For example, various social media formats have changed how we communicate.

We can share our every moments and thoughts with anyone with internet access. These

communications can be a simple status update on Facebook, to an emoji, to a short video clip of

yourself with digital sunglasses over your face a la Snapchat. While all of these communications

are valid forms of expression, one must wonder if it is the equivalent of tradition communication.

Does a lack of physical contact affect our experience with others? Does a “Happy Birthday” text

create the same bond as sending a physical birthday card? As technology makes everything

effortless, it takes away the meaning of doing it. To feel someone’s presence or to make eye

contact are some of our most human connections. Many technologies are replacing them with a

sterile experience.

The human experience isn’t the only thing to to be lost to technology use. Skills are being

lost as well. A brain isn’t engaged by watching a YouTube video of “epic fails” or reading a

Buzzfeed list on the ugliest shades of green. So much technology is doing the work for us. No

one needs to develop a sense of direction when a GPS can give you each step in real time.

There’s also just a general competence lost because of technology. With technology typically
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there to correct them immediately, people feel unsure or even helpless when they don’t have it

available. The computer becomes more valued than the human mind.

Understanding Technology in Education

If Postman is wary of technology in society, he is down right skeptical of technology in

education. Just like many people in society put all their hope into technology, so do teachers.

There are many things technology can do for students, but still it has its devastating setbacks.

The number one rule to keep in mind with technologies in schools is that more technology won’t

solve the problems that existed before. Technology has continued to be introduce to schools and

each time it doesn’t live up to expectations. Theses overzealous supports of technology in school

have to be more realistic. Capabilities are near limitless with ever advancing technologies, but

the grand visions of their use aren’t always practical. (p.40)

A major contributing factor to technology’s inability to to live up to its hype is that

technology is too often used as a tool to provide more information. By doing this, the school’s

purpose isn’t being addressed. “Public education does not serve a public. It creates a public.”

(Postman, p.18). A school is a place for people to gather. It’s a place where children can learn to

be together and learn the behavior of a society. If schools were just about content and

curriculum, then they would have been made obsolete long ago since so much more information

is easily available outside the school. (Postman, p. 38) Schools have a greater purpose in

developing our human experience. They need to be careful as new technology is brought into

their walls. As future generations are molded, Postman argues that technology isolates our

students and hurts schools’ greatest benefit of developing social cohesion and collaboration.
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(Postman, p. 46) Students don’t develop the skills of related to being a part of something greater

than themselves.

Teachers need to have a greater awareness of technology’s effects on the students if they

want to use them in the classroom. When new technology is introduced it changes what skills are

required of a student. In some situations, this means that some times that the development of

certain skills are lost like how autocorrect has stunted people’s spelling and grammar. In other

situations, it means students must develop news skill like using a touchscreen device. This leads

to the concern that new skills aren’t as useful or beneficial as the old skills.

A school’s best use of technology should be about closing the equity gap. Many families

are without the necessary technology to further their social and cultural capital. Technology

alone can’t solve the divide; it will require diligent teachers reaching out to those that need it

most. Without technology facilitation by the school systems, those with limited access to

technology will continue to suffer. They will always lag behind their counterparts with plenty of

technology access. Teachers can respond to this by providing additional time and resources to

students that lack experience with technology due to a lack of access. Through the responsible

use of technology those students can expand their social networks and further develop their

cultural capital.

Technology Examples in School

In the fall of 2013, Howard County Public Schools relaxed its policy on cell phones in

school. It was a big change for some teachers that had watched the rise of the device and its

distractibility spread throughout the school. For the students it was a relief to be allowed to freely
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use a device that had formed their adolescents. They were born into a generation in which cell

phone use is an extension of one’s self. Even though the school system had been watchful of the

cell phone and all the bad it potentially could bring into the school, school officials also

recognized all the positives it brought with it.

To understand the negatives of cell phones, one must look at its early origin with

teenagers in school. Early cell phones had very limited features and could only make phone calls.

While this was beneficial to those that owned one, it provided very little or nothing to education.

There were concerns of phones going off during class or even student talking on the phone

during class. Then came the ability to text message people. It was more discreet and easier to

hide under a desk. Again it would only lead to distracted students. Next came camera phones and

bigger concerns. Now privacy was threatened. Students could take pictures of their peers and

share with others. Finally, cell phones evolved into smartphones giving way too many more

problems. Smartphones could be used to connect to the internet, record videos, play various

apps, and so much more. In addition to completely changing our sense of privacy in and out of

school, these devices became the greatest entertainment tool ever.

The issue with cell phones began because it was a distraction and the versatility of the

smartphone has only pushed the issue. Students can connect to various social media apps to

communicate with others which has also led to online bullying. This in turn creates another

distraction to the student body. Not only are students distracted by their phones, but other

students are distracted by the emotional abuse they receive through their phones in the form of

cyberbullying. In addition, the ability to photograph and record videos of others can lead to

bullying and invade someone's privacy. These kinds of issues run rampant because there is a

disconnect for many teenagers between what is done digitally and reality.
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Phones in school are also treated as a status symbol. People envy the kid with the newest

and most expensive cell phone. Unfortunately, not every family can afford as nice of a phone or

even a phone at all. This divide of haves and have-nots can lead to theft, but also wide the gap of

opportunities and experiences. The technology in our phones today grows exponentially and

those with the newest phone are at an advantage over those with a hand me down phone. Newer

phones are faster, more powerful, and supported more. Owners of new smartphones have greater

capabilities at their figure tips.

Despite these many dangers, one must also recognize all the benefits a smartphone

provides. With the ability to connect to the internet, a near limitless amount of information is

available to them. Students with a smartphone have a pocket size computer that can instantly

provide answers to their questions. They have a resource greater than any generation that came

before them and it would be a waste to refuse them access to such a tool.

Phones were always designed as a social device and can be applied as one in schools.

Smartphones allow students to connect in a private and comfortable way. It allows them to

control what is shared, but still participate in social assignments or activities like forums or

games. Most students time out of school is spent communicating through the tiny glass of their

smartphones and being able to replicate this in schools provides students with a greater comfort.

The greatest benefit of allowing phones in school is that it creates an opportunity to

demonstrate appropriate technology use. The students in schools now will absolutely have

smartphones as adults. Allowing phone use in schools is actually molding how they will use it in

adulthood. Most people carry a cell phone around, but there are right and wrong ways to use it.

Or at least what society deems appropriate. For example, students need to be taught that it's not
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acceptable to record or photograph someone without their permission. Students need to learn that

being on their phone while in a line inconveniences everyone around them. They need to know

how the powerful entertainment device in their pocket can become their greatest academic

advantage. There’s no guarantee these lessons would be learned through natural use. Schools

can’t pretend that phones don’t exist and have students keep them hidden. Educators need to

meet the problem or blessing head on and take control because it is they who create the public.
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References

Postman, N. (1996). End of education: Redefining the value of school. New York: Vintage

Books.