We are so fortunate. If you think about it, we have made so many advances in the past several decades. I remember when I worked for GTE back in the 70's, they were talking about the telephones of the future, being able to see who you were talking to. I remember when we converted to our very first computer. All the office staff had to enter all the paper files into the computer. What a job! The first computers were monsters. I mean, it took up an entire room, from wall to wall, and from floor to ceiling, and the big rolls of tapes to store all that infomation. Now you can hold a computer in the palm of your hand and it holds so much more information. No big rolls of tape. I pass this old school house on my way home from work, and every time I see it, it brings back fond memories of my elementary years. I attended a small country school, and back then we were taught the basics, reading, writing, and arithmetic, and basic manners, respect for your elders. Back then, when the teacher said something, you listened. If you didn't, well, if you're from the old school, you know what happened. Sometimes with all the chaos of life, I think it would be nice to escape to a simpler, more basic life style, at least for a little while. Let's face it, we are spoiled by all the modern technology. I know I would miss it all, and I wouldn't want to give it up all together.
The black and white in this is just wonderful! Love the composition and your sentiments! Sometimes I wish I knew what it was like to grow up back then, before the technology revolution.
Wow! LOVE this!!! I often wish I could go back to this time. It would be hard to give up all the luxuries, but I guess if I were there then I woudn't know about them yet :)
Great simple capture to relive the days of yore. It really is hard to believe the advances technology has made. I do not believe that all are good though..I think it is a shame that children do not know the pleasures of playing outdoors from dawn to dusk or the freedoms we had.
Beautiful composition and I agree with your commentary. This is a sweet photo to me because I was probably the last generation in a one room schoolhouse. Reminds me of where I went to kindergarten
Tom Wolfe said You can't go home again and in this case I think he was right. There is no turning back to that simpler time which probably seemed idyllic to kids because they had the security of family surrounding them. Probably adults of that period had just as many worries as we do.
If you want to read a fascinating book about going back to basics, pick up Bill Bryson's At Home: A Short History of Private Life which traces all our modern conveniences back to their historic roots.
Lovely composition, love the B&W and i agree with you. Even if i'm not from the times when teachers put chickpeas under your knees (they actually did that in italy, don't know else where) i grow up till the age of 15 without PC or cellphones and yes, it was everything simpler. Kids used to play more outside and i surelly used to read more books.... ;P
I like the shot and the message. I have notices lately that kids have forgotten simple things such as please and thank you. We used to go on trips and we would fight for a window seat. Now I go by a car with kids and their heads are all down looking at phones and IPOD's
Love the simplicity of your black and white schoolhouse and commentary. Yes, I think some of our advances have done so much good, but we've paid a price for them in other ways. I don't know if you can truly go back, but you can certainly simplify and change your priorities to get back to some of those basics if you truly want to. Sadly, I think many people are unwilling to give up their luxuries to do that. Anyway- your picture is beautiful!
I love this shot. I reminds me of the school in 'Anne of Green Gables' so much; the old-style school where all the grades learned together in one room.
And yes it's true, we are definitely spoiled by the new technology that's around today. I do remember the cassette tapes, old video games of Blip, Space Invaders and Frogger... and compared to the ones around today, they are so very old.
However, I do go without technology about once or twice a week; mainly in the afternoons. I turn off the computer, switch off the radio and sit outside and read a book, or I play my piano, or play a vinyl on the turntable. This way I am reminded of where I came from in the 1980's. :)
I love this shot, Rick! I actually do wish we could go back to a simpler time. I was telling my son in the car today that when I first met his dad, I was a college student and still typing papers on a typewriter. The first gift my husband gave me was a word processor so I could spend more time with him. After our "discussion" last night, I went on Ebay and bought an Autumn Leaves bowl...for $8.
Rick this is terrific. I started school in a two room schoolhouse. One room had 1st, 2nd, 3rd grades and the other room had 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. Each grade had a few rows and all taught by one teacher in each room.
Now this building is the town hall.
COMMENTARY > love the commentary mr rick .... i like the basics too...!
but modern technology made our life the simpler way ....
i remeber when i was a kid, the only escape for my boredom was a nintendo game player console, playing mario brothers .... that was way back 80's , but children nowadays have their own IPAD playing ANGRY BIRDS!
Nice photo and I agree with you completely. Though I think I just might be able adjust to less technology, if it meant a slower paced, simpler less stressful life. I do however realize that technology has also done great things for our well being - health care for example.
I totally agree with you. I think we all learned more back in the old days when we had to write stuff down & copy from the blackboard & if you got it wrong, well that was you own fault - no-one else's.
Cute little cottage...I have to agree that we are spoiled by technology, personally I know I couldn't live without computers and cell phones. They do make life a lot easier.
ohh such nice sentiments here Rick, sometimes this technology is making me feel unproductive though. Its as if most of my time has been swallowed by the internet. =)
What a great shot, Rick. You took me back as well. My kids wonder how we managed without cell phones when raising them. "What did you do, mom, when we didn't get home on time and you couldn't call our cells and find out if we were okay?". We worried a lot. =)
a perfect picture for the start of a new school year!! :) I have always wanted to be a teacher and your picture reminds me of "Little House on the Prairie"--I watched that show as a little girl and I dreamed of being a teacher in a small country school :) beautiful shot :)
A simple school house to depict simpler times. You know, if we didn't have all this fancy-schmancy technology, we wouldn't have gotten to know you, Rick (and all the other great 365ers). So there is good in modern advances. But for some reason, we have lost the respect and manners you mentioned. We're all running around so fast it's difficult to find time to extended the common courtesies we used to as a society.
Rick your picture of the school house brings back a lot of memories.some good and some not so good. like having an old man for a teacher who drilled us with timetables. today I'm still thankful for this excercise, the knowlede we acquired comes in handy. his second favorite subject was religion, no history lessons or anyother interesting for that matter.. I'm talking about the first few year of my schooling. kids nowadays don't really realize how good they have it. we had to walk to school come rain or shine, in winter through the snow, there were no busses or mom or dad's car to take us. we played ouside, there wasn't any TV yet and not the electronic stuff kids have today. I could go on and on but I'm sure you know what I'm trying to say... I just wish I could express myself a little better.
I'm a techno-geek so really love our new-fangled gadgets. However, I also love the basics. I guess it's tools in general I'm fascinated by, no matter the timeline. Fantastic image, very nostalgic!
The other day the water got shut off in our neighborhood for some major repairs and you would have thot it was the end of the World! I have to admit that it crossed my mind that I would rather have the water turned off for the day than my electricity since I'd lose my "connection" to the World. LOL Nice photo and processing.
September 4th, 2011
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If you want to read a fascinating book about going back to basics, pick up Bill Bryson's At Home: A Short History of Private Life which traces all our modern conveniences back to their historic roots.
And yes it's true, we are definitely spoiled by the new technology that's around today. I do remember the cassette tapes, old video games of Blip, Space Invaders and Frogger... and compared to the ones around today, they are so very old.
However, I do go without technology about once or twice a week; mainly in the afternoons. I turn off the computer, switch off the radio and sit outside and read a book, or I play my piano, or play a vinyl on the turntable. This way I am reminded of where I came from in the 1980's. :)
Now this building is the town hall.
COMMENTARY > love the commentary mr rick .... i like the basics too...!
but modern technology made our life the simpler way ....
i remeber when i was a kid, the only escape for my boredom was a nintendo game player console, playing mario brothers .... that was way back 80's , but children nowadays have their own IPAD playing ANGRY BIRDS!
I totally agree with you. I think we all learned more back in the old days when we had to write stuff down & copy from the blackboard & if you got it wrong, well that was you own fault - no-one else's.