Views on the new training

Two weeks ago, we began our latest round of in-service training.  This year we are focusing on learning many of the tools being used by young people to communicate, to recreate and to facilitate.  No doubt, we have moved into that world of electronic dependability that was only speculated upon when I was a child.  I think back to watching The Jetson’s as a small boy and thinking “wow, that is cool”.  Now, as I watch my Roomba race across the living room floor I see visions of Rosie, the Jetson’s robotic housekeeper.  While I have made a conscious effort to avoid becoming “overly techie”, I bow to the inevitable fact that technology, as it has done since man first turned rock into a round, rolling object, cannot be stopped.  Nor, in my opinion, should it!  With a nod of nostalgic appreciation to those among us who prefer to “rough it” and live sans technology, I think even they would find some good in the explosion of technology over the past 15 years.  I am amazed on a daily basis by how more data can be stored in ever smaller vessels of plastic.  I gave my wife a 30 gig i-pod several months back.  Now, that seems like a negligible amount of space as 80 gig and 160 gig i-pods are being made.  Last night, as I sat reading a most enjoyable book, I pondered the merits of purchasing a Kindle.  As my aging eyes get less and less eager to read standard print, I wonder if maybe I would benefit from such a device.  But, as I hold the somewhat tattered copy of Lord of the Rings that is one of my prize possessions, I think, no, not today!  For today I will continue to cherish the old while acknowledging the coming of the BRAVE NEW WORLD!