Technological Poverty

Side by side with what we give students is what we refuse to give them, or rather, our firm belief that in order to make mental and physical room for the good, we must remove the distractions of technology. In Principles of Catholic Theology, Cardinal Ratzinger says that as technology advances, questions arise as to how rapidly it can alienate us from tradition and divorce us from any sane point of reference that brings unity of life. Unity of life and thought cannot be achieved in a climate of distraction and sensationalism.

We are growing too distant from reality– from nature with all her charms, symbols, delights, and the wise traditions interpreting her. The mind habituated to spectacle is left “channel-surfing,” now mildly interested, now bored, forever blind to the sights that once held generations spellbound. The channel-surfer may subconsciously lose hope of ever finding a “channel” to hold his interest. He may begin to loathe all channels, and even the world they depict. This condition is acedia, a grave spiritual danger. Stripped of judgment, what remains of man’s capacity for opinion and belief is vulnerable to whatever the medium chooses to feed him. Malcolm Muggeridge wrote that the media’s influence is “largely exerted irresponsibly, arbitrarily, and without reference to any moral, or intellectual, still less spiritual guidelines,” later referring to it simply as a “brainwashing operation.”

For these reasons, our students are not permitted the use of television, music players, personal computers, cell phones, or other electronic devices. (Community telephones are available for student use and music players are also available, but are controlled by the staff.)  In order to freely develop a wholesome imagination in students, the Academy embraces this environment of technological poverty.