Mythbusters Renee-style

When I taught computers to elementary students, there was a lesson I gave about advancing technologies: I would start out by sharing with students that in 1843, the Commissioner of the US Patent Office said, "Everything that will be invented has already been invented." Well, I'm glad to say I was wrong. Although, there are about 431 elementary students running around the world thinking this is true. Oh, the things we say as teachers that influence their young minds.

Well, it was all a huge misunderstanding. The poor man, Henry Ellsworth by name, was actually resigning from the job and said, "The advancement of the arts, from year to year, taxes our credulity and seems to presage the arrival of that period when human improvement must end." The comment was a rhetorical exaggeration of course, but Ellsworth was simply acknowledging the exponential increase of patents during that time. His reason for resigning was for family affairs. Just one more support that rumor weeds certainly grow, and quickly.