THE FUN THEY HAD-Isaac Asimov

(1920-1992)

)

Learning

through

computer

Virtual

Classroom

Robotic

teacher

Moving

e-text

SCHOOLS OF

THE FUTURE

THE FUN THEY HAD-Isaac Asimov

(1920-1992)

INDEX1. About the Author

2. Introduction

3. Theme & Sub-theme

4. Characters

5. Points to ponder

6. Summary7. Assignments

About the Author : IsaacAsimov was an American writer andprofessor of biochemistry at BostonUniversity. Asimov was born informer USSR but grew up in theUnited States. He was known for hisworks of science fiction and popularscience. Asimov was a prolific writerwho wrote and edited more than500 books and an estimated 90,000letters and postcards.

THE FUN THEY HAD-Isaac Asimov

(1920-1992)

Introduction:

“The Fun They Had’ by Isaac Asimov is a science fiction. It

tells the story of two young children named Tommy and

Margie who live in the year 2157, where children get an

education through computers at their home. One day they

come through a printed book and learn something about the

school that existed hundreds and hundreds of years ago. It is

a matter of great surprise for them because they are living in

the age of moving e-texts. The story focuses on the future of

education and its potential outcome e.g. lack of from social

interactions.

THE FUN THEY HAD

THE FUN THEY HAD

Theme – Future schooling and its impact on children

Sub-Theme – Students’ attitude to learning

❑ The story differentiates between future schooling

(characterised by e-learning) and the schools in the past.

❑ It also emphasises how future schooling may deprive the

children of social interaction and the fun of childhood.

CHARACTERS :

❑ Tommy – a thirteen year old boy

❑ Margie – an eleven year old girl

❑ Mrs Jones – Mother

❑ County Inspector– was trained at repairing a

mechanical teacher

THE FUN THEY HAD

THE FUN THEY HAD

It is the year 2157. Margie makes a diary entry which reveals that

Tommy has come across a book printed on paper. The pages of the

book have turned yellow and wrinkled which proves that it existed

centuries ago. The book is peculiar in the sense that it had the

same words on it that it had when they read it the first time. They

were not moving like that on a computer/television screen. Tommy

calls it waste because once the book is read it is of no use. Their

television screen has had a million books on it and one cannot

throw it away. Margie is of the same opinion but she is curious to

know what the book is about. Tommy tells her that it is about school.

She hated school, but now she hated it more than ever because

her mechanical teacher had been giving her test after test in

geography and she had been performing poorly. Her mother

sends for the County Inspector who is a round little man.

SUMMARY :

He takes the television teacher apart and sets it right within an

hour which only increases Margie’s disappointment. He tells her

mother that it was not Margie’s fault but the geography sector

of the mechanical teacher was geared a little too quick and he

has slowed that to an average ten-year level. He assures

Margie and her mother that there will be no problem henceforth.

Margie is curious to know about the school that existed in the past.

Tommy tells her that it is not their kind of school. That is the old

kind of school that they had centuries ago. The students had a

human teacher who taught them and gave them homework and

also asked them questions. Margie argues that a man cannot be

smart enough.

THE FUN THEY HAD

SUMMARY :

THE FUN THEY HAD

SUMMARY :

Tommy further tells her that the teachers didn’t live in the house.

They had a special building and all the kids went there. The kids

of the same age learned the same thing. Now it is Margie’s

school time. She goes into the schoolroom which is right next to

her bedroom and the mechanical teacher is on and waiting for

her. She puts her homework in the slot with a sigh.

She still thinks about the old schools they had when her

grandfather’s grandfather was a little boy. All the kids from the

whole neighborhood came, laughing and shouting in the

schoolyard, sitting together in the schoolroom, going home

together at the end of the day. Those schools were far better

than the schools of today because they offered great fun to

the students.

THE FUN THEY HAD

POINTS TO PONDER:

Margie’s attitude to her school

Cause of Margie’s poor performance in geography

Difference between Margie’s school and the school of the

past

Impact of future schooling on students – little scope for social

interaction, a dull and monotonous experience, loss of

enthusiasm, deprived of childhood joy and fun etc

ASSIGNMENT : QUESTIONS TO TEST COMPREHENSIONShort Answer Questions (30-40 words)

1. How are Tommy’s and Margie’s books different from the books used

during the grandfather’s school days?

2. How is Margie and Tommy’s school different from that of the grandfather’s

school?

3. What snag had Margie’s teacher developed?

4. Why was Margie disappointed?

5. What did the Country Inspector tell her mother?

6. Why was Margie’s mother so worried?

Long Answer Questions (100-150 words) :

7. What views did Margie have about the old schools?

8. In the context of the story ‘The Fun They Had’, do you think that

mechanical teacher or a computerised instructor can’t replace a human

teacher?

THE FUN THEY HAD

Imp : Write all the difficult words from the story and their meanings in your vocabulary note-book as part of your preparation for UPSC (NDA)