The balance of technology and nature in the lives of people, especially the young, is important, says Qualicum Beach Elementary School teacher Petra Knight.

But, when a student looks out their window and canB次元官网网址檛 describe what they see in the world, thereB次元官网网址檚 a problem, she said.

Many of KnightB次元官网网址檚 students felt the same way when she showed them a book called , written by Robert Macfarlane and inspired by Oxford University PressB次元官网网址檚 decision to remove about 50 nature-related words from their junior dictionary, and replace them with words like B次元官网网址榖log,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址楳P3 player,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址榲oicemailB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址榗elebrity.B次元官网网址�

Removed were words like B次元官网网址榙andelion,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址榟eather,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址榦tter,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址榢ingfisherB次元官网网址� and others.

With the moves made in 2007, several campaigns against the changes have taken place between then and now, including a joint letter sent to Oxford by 28 authors, including Margaret Atwood in 2015.

When Knight revealed these changes to her students early this year, many were concerned, confused, and even angry, they said.

B次元官网网址淚 felt very, very upset and confused,B次元官网网址� said Lauren Porter, a student in KnightB次元官网网址檚 Grade 5 class. B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 know why they did it.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淜ids need to know what these words are. I think nature is more important than technology,B次元官网网址� said Fiona Campbell, another student.

Isabelle Gray said the changes worried her because she sees otters and ferns regularly, as well as ravens and herons right in her yard.

The students decided to send letters to detailing their dismay and asking for the words to be put back.

Knight said she hopes Oxford will give the students some sort of reply, even if itB次元官网网址檚 just an explanation of why the words were removed. In a 2015 blog post, Oxford Dictionaries sought to explain how it decides what words to include in childrenB次元官网网址檚 dictionaries.

Key is that the dictionary is small and can only contain so many words, meaning there are always very difficult choices to make. And with language evolving, Oxford seeks to include at least some of the newer words that have appeared and became useful, said the post.

Oxford also uses the Oxford ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Corpus, which shows what language children are most likely to come across in books, as well as what children often write. Lastly, the post notes that dictionaries are meant to reflect language as itB次元官网网址檚 used, not change how itB次元官网网址檚 used.

Knight said she felt that Oxford does have an impact on children based on what words it includes in dictionaries, and said she feels that Oxford has a certain responsibility to preserve language, especially when it comes to what words children learn.

B次元官网网址淚f you really have to reduce it, you shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be cutting out words that describe what you see out your window,B次元官网网址� she said.

Though the debate around these changes has often turned into a debate about nature versus technology in the lives of children, Knight said she doesnB次元官网网址檛 deny the many positives technology has brought. In fact she said she was able to still take her class outside for their twice-weekly forest time and still do a previous interview over her cellphone with someone several provinces away.

B次元官网网址淚 think a balance is needed,B次元官网网址� she said, with students in her class suggesting splitting time in front of a screen with time spent outside, or using technology outside, like taking photos of a friend or family member while out for a walk.

Ultimately, Knight said sheB次元官网网址檚 excited that her studentsB次元官网网址� letters has generated interest.

B次元官网网址淚 want them to know that their opinion matters, even at 10 years old.B次元官网网址�

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