Pencil Me In: A Journey in the Fight for Graphite by John T. Spencer

The book Pencil Me In:  A Journey in the Fight for Graphite by John T. Spencer is about a nineteenth century man, Tom Johnson who struggles with the journey to include pencils in his classroom.  He believes in the benefit that pencils can have in a child's education and encourages his colleagues, administrators and community to accept pencils as a progressive technological tool that will enhance the education of the students.  The story is a metaphor for what is current in education today.  Educators struggle with the incorporation of computers in the classroom.  They fear them because they present change.  The use of computers in the classroom in a quality way encourages teachers to be critical of their own educational pedagogy.  The educational curriculum needs to be very child centered with the teacher acting as facilitator which is a new way of thinking for many educators.  Anytime a fairly drastic change is occurring in the field of education, there will be supporters, those who are unsure but willing and those who simply don't want to accept change or the possibilities that come with it.  Spencer showcases Tom Johnson's experiences with all of these types of people who are hesitant to make the change from a piece of chalk and slate to pencil and paper work.  He addresses many current issues but instead relates them to a change that occurred in the nineteenth century.  While discussing these issues in this manner, he makes it clear that in the future he believes that computers will be used just as commonly and thoughtlessly as pencils and paper are used today.  Although the change to a computer integrated curriculum can be scary, challenging and overwhelming for many, in years to come it will become as commonplace as pencils and paper are in classrooms in the 21st century.

Throughout the book, Spencer presents many 21st century issues in the context of a story taking place in the 19th century.    For example, he discusses the issue of safety.  Pencils are sharp which makes them inherently a dangerous tool but more importantly they are a tool which enables someone to write damaging or unkind words.  By writing something down on paper one child could bully another in a more hurtful way than with words.  This issue is obviously very prevalent in todays society but with the use of computers instead of pencils.  Cyber-bullying is a very real and frightening issue.  Children are able to hurt others in a way that is in a more broad, more expansive and also more anonymous way.  Words can be posted online and with the click of a button, a huge amount of people can have access to those words.  Also, the individual posting the comment does not see the victims reaction and the pain caused.  That individual can disassociated him/herself with the true implications caused by the words posted.  Spencer then questions whether or not that means we then stop using the technological tools or  act proactively and teach students to use the tools in an ethical and productive way.  Do educators dismiss all of the wonderful capabilities that technology can provide students in order to stay away from limited negative outcomes, or do they embrace the tools for what they are and educate students how to use them responsibly?  

Spencer discusses the importance of social media many times throughout the book.  Tom Johnson truly wants his students to be contributing, thoughtful members of their classroom community.  He wants his students to feel free to discuss what is on their minds, to convey messages through pencil/paper writing and to give and gain feedback on the messages they contribute.  Students are encouraged to keep a plog (a nineteenth century blog)  which can be read and commented on by those who subscribe.  Tom Johnson's classroom is also struggling with the use of a pen-pal network (19th century social media network).  The administration hesitates to approve use of it, but Johnson fights for its use discussing many benefits and life experiences that students will gain.

I finished reading the book...finally.    Although I appreciate his story about the nineteenth century man, Tom Johnson who struggles with the journey to include pencils in his classroom.  I found the book to be very boring and difficult to get through.  I absolutely love to read, but this book was a tough one for me to complete, honestly.  I just felt like the metaphor was too drawn out.  I understand the point that eventually the use of computers will be as normal and accepted as the use of pencils in our classrooms today.  Technology offers tools that need to be utilized in the educational world to enhance and elaborate a child's education.  And, I enjoyed the way he discussed these issues and made it clear that it really doesn't matter what change is presented in education, people will have difficulty accepting it.  That fact is timeless.  Change is hard and there will always be those who are ready to jump on board and those that hesitate.  I guess I would have preferred it be a little more true to reality.  Reading about iparchment and plogs just bothered me for some reason.  I am certain there was a pencil revolution in this time era and many of the issues that are current today were difficult issues then too.  I guess I would have just preferred it be not quite such a literal metaphor.  It seems it could have had the same effect but been a little more believable in story.