The exchange of illustrated greetings among friends dates from ancient times. In Egypt the new year was celebrated by the exchange of symbolic presents, such as scent bottles and scarabs inscribed au ab nab ("all good luck"). The Romans exchanged strenae, originally branches of laurel or olive, frequently coated with gold leaf. Symbols of seasonal good will, such as a Roman lamp impressed with the figure of Victory surrounded by strenae, were inscribed with Anno novo faustum felix tibi sit ("May the new year be happy and lucky for you"). The acknowledgment of the new year with exchanges of good will continued in Europe through the early days of Christianity.
Speaking of cards, I thought of another paper product that is used most often - Notebook.
We all saw it over and over during the pandemic year: In the face of remote and hybrid learning, students spent hours tethered to iPads and Chromebooks, all day, every day. While such technology thankfully allowed for online learning that would have been inconceivable a decade ago, excessive screen time has been linked to a host of deleterious effects.
Students using devices to take notes are often bombarded with updates, messages, and notifications, plus they’re distracted by the ever-present temptation to search the web. Authentic learning, however, requires concentration and deep, uninterrupted immersion in a topic.
In a bid to reclaim some balance between digital and analog learning, Many students are required to use paper notebooks this coming year. Paper notebooks can help draw young people's attention away from screens, and they offer several educational benefits.
