Exploring Isaac Asimov's 'The Fun They Had' and Future Education Systems
Isaac Asimov's "The Fun They Had" is a science fiction story depicting a future where education is through virtual reality and mechanical teachers. The story follows two children, Margie and Tommy, as they compare their automated school system with the traditional schools described in an old book. As technology evolves, the narrative questions the impact of virtual education on students' learning experiences.
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DAV PUBLIC SCHOOL, BERHAMPUR BEEHIVE ENGLISH LITERATURE BOOK STD IX LESSON-1 THE FUN THEY HAD WRITTEN BY ISAAC ASIMOV
ISAAC ASIMOV Isaac asimov c. January 2, 1920[a] April 6, 1992) was an american writer and professor of biochemistry at boston university. He was known for his fiction and popular science. Asimov was a prolific writer who wrote or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards.[D]his books have been published in 9 of the 10 major categories of the Dewey decimal classification.[1] works of science This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
THE FUN THEY HAD "The fun they had" is a science fiction story by American writer Isaac Asimov. It first appeared in a children's newspaper in 1951 and was reprinted in the February 1954 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. It has been modified in a finish English book called KEY English 8-9. It delves into the difference in the education systems of the olden days and the virtual form of education with the use of mechanical teacher . Isaac Asimov is expressing his vision of the future of technology .
The story we shall look to is set in the future visualized by Isaac Asimov in 1951. By 2020, we are partially set in the kind of schools thought by him. Many number of schools presently have a lot of access to virtual reality and virtual classroom. Computerized mechanism and internet has become a necessary reality for the present education system in schools and for students with usage of robotics. SOPHIAHUMANOID/ROBOT VIRTUALCLASSES MECHANICAL TEACHER
CHAPTER SKETCH The story The Fun They Had depicts schools of future with virtual reality and virtual classrooms. THE FUN THEY HAD The writer , Sir Isaac Asimov tries to take us to the world of future where computers play a major role. ABOUT THE CHARACTERS MARGIE A girl of eleven years Classrooms and the schools would be automated with robotic or mechanical teachers. TOMMY A boy of thirteen years who lives close to Margie The story depicts two students, Tommy aged thirteen and Margie aged eleven living in future that is in may 2157. MARGIE S MOTHER Disciplined person Tommy gets a real printed old book from the attic in his house which is about the schools of the past. COUNTY INSPECTOR A round little man who comes to repair the mechanical teacher of margie Both the children in the lesson are seen comparing and contrasting between their school and the schools referred in the book. By the end the children feel happy and show their interest to be a part of the old kind of school.
Before we peep in to understand the story lets question ourselves 1. Three things that you like about your school. Options are as follows : a. Teachers b.School mates c. Playground d.Activities e. Infrastructure f. Any other 2. Three things about your school that you would like to change. (The choice is yours) 3. Would you like a real book or telebook?
EXPLANATIONS MEANINGS Paragraph 1 Margie aged thirteen years makes a diary entry on 21st May -2157that Tommy found a real book. The book was very old. She remembers her grandfather once telling that when he was a little boy his grandfather had referred to a time when stories were printed on paper. Margie and Tommy closely watched the book and found that it was old and pages were yellow and crinkly. It was a surprise to them to read words that stood still and the words being the same when they went to the previous page. 1. Crinkly with many folds or lines 2. Awfully funny rather humorous 3. Still no movement Paragraph 2 Both Tommy and Margie are in discussion. Tommy called the book a waste as it could be thrown off once it is read. In contrast he was happy with millions of telebooks in his television screen and he wouldn t throw it. Margie also was equally happy with her mechanical teacher with many telebooks. Margie wanted to know where had Tommy got the book and what was it about. To this Tommy answered that he found it in his house in the attic and it was about school. 1. Gee a mild expression, typically enthusiasm, or sympathy 2. Attic a space or room inside or partly inside the roof of a building 3. You re through with- of surprise,
EXPLANATIONS MEANINGS Paragraph 3 Margie hated her school and her mechanical teacher. Lately, she hated it more because her teacher was giving her lots of tests in geography wherein she was doing worse and worse and for which her mother also scolded her and called for the county inspector. 1. Scornful contemptuous; irritated 2. Sorrowfully with utmost disgust 3. Sent for - called Paragraph 4 County inspector came with a whole box of tools with dials and wires. He smiled at Margie, gave her an apple and took the mechanical teacher apart to repair. Margie did not want it to be repaired. Her wish was not fulfilled as he was good at it and repaired in an hour. She hated the teacher so she called it large, black and ugly. The teacher had a big screen where all the lessons were shown, of which again questions were asked. This part was not bad for Margie. She hated the slot where she had to put homework and test papers in a punch code system. She learnt it at the age of six years. The teacher also calculated marks in no time. 1. Slot a given space, time or position 2. Punch code method of giving answers by punching holes 3. Put it together - assemble
MEANINGS EXPLANATIONS Paragraph 5 The county inspector smiled and patted Margie s head after completed. He explained to Margie s mother, Mrs. Jones that Margie was not at all at fault as the geography sector of her teacher geared too fast which was above her level of understanding and he assured her mother that he lowered it s speed to an average ten year level. He patted her head again and told her that her performance was satisfactory. Further Margie wanted her teacher to be taken back altogether Tommy s teacher was taken away for a month as the history sector blanked out totally. She did not like school so she wondered why would anyone write about school. 1. Geared (to) adjusted to a particular standard or level 2. Blanked out completely erased or deleted Paragraph 6 Tommy called her stupid and explained her that it was not their kind of school but the old kind which existed centuries ago. She was hurt and while she was trying to read the book over his shoulder expressed that they must have had a teacher. Tommy answered that they did not have a regular teacher but a man who told the boys and girls things and gave them homework and asked them questions to which Margie was surprised. 1. Loftily in a superior way 2. Superior eyes eyes showing the feeling of being better
EXPLANATIONS MEANINGS Paragraph 7 Margie did not approve of a man being smart enough to be a teacher to which Tommy contradicted and betted. He had put his father as an example of being knowledgeable. Margie did not dispute and was not able to accept a strange man in her house to teach her. To this Tommy laughed and explained that the school was a special building and all kids of the same age went there, learnt the same thing and teachers did not live in the house. 1. Betcha informal conversation for - bet you 2. Dispute disagree Paragraph 8 Margie disputed this by saying that her mother was of the idea that a teacher should be adjusted to fit the mind of every boy and girl and that each child should be taught differently. Tommy became angry and told her not to read the book if she didn t accept. She tried to please him that she wanted to know about these funny schools. Meanwhile Margie s mother called Margie as it was time for school and for Tommy also. Margie requested Tommy about reading the book after school. 1. Half finished-partly completed 2. To be adjusted-to manage, to understand
EXPLANATIONS MEANINGS Paragraph 9 Tommy did not show much interest in her request and walked away whistling and tucked the dusty old book beneath his arms. Margie went to her schoolroom which was right next to her bedroom where her mechanical teacher was on and waiting for her. It was always on at the same time everyday . Her mother had the opinion that little girls learned better regularly. Saturday and Sunday were holidays from school. The screen was on with arithmetic lesson on additions of proper fraction. 1. Nonchalantly not showing much interest or enthusiasm 2. Tucked kept safely 3. Lit up - lighted Paragraph 10 Margie was not interested in the lesson and sighed. She was thinking of the old kind of school where all kids from the whole neighbourhood came laughing and shouting in the schoolyard, sitting together in the school. They learned the same thing so that they could help each other in doing homework. They also went home together at the end of the day. The teachers were people. When the mechanical teacher of Margie was flashing information about fractions she was thinking about the fun the kids of the old school had . 1. Sigh unwillingness 2. Flashing shining in a bright but brief, sudden way
I. Answer in few words or in couple of sentences (Answers to the questions given in the NCERT book BEEHIVE) 1. How old are Margie and Tommy ? Ans. Margie is eleven and Tommy is thirteen years old. 2. What did Margie write in her diary ? Ans. Margie wrote a diary entry, Today Tommy found a real book ! 3. Had Margie ever seen a book before ? Ans. No, Margie had never seen a book before. 4. What things about the book did she find strange ? Ans. The pages of the book were yellow and crinkly and it was more funny that the words were still and did not move and the words were same. 5. What do you think a telebook is ? Ans. A telebook is an E book or virtual book whose text automatically moved in computer or mechanical teacher as depicted in the lesson .It can be read on the screen. 6. Where was Margie s school ? Did she have any classmates ? Ans. Margie s school room was next to her bedroom. No, she did not have any classmates 7. What subjects did Margie and Tommy learn ? Ans. They learnt history, geography and mathematics in their school.
II. Extracts 1. Iwouldn t throw it away. Who says these words ? Ans. These words are said by Tommy. i. ii. Ans. It refers to the telebook . What does it refer to ? iii. What is it being compared with by the speaker ? Ans Telebook is being compared with the old book found by Tommy 2. Sure they had a teacher, but it wasn t a regular teacher, it was a man. i. Ans. They refers to the children of the old school. Who does they refer to ? ii. What does regular mean here ? Ans. Regular here refers to regularity of the mechanical teachers of Margie and Tommy. iii. What is it contrasted with ? Ans. Man as a teacher of the old kind of school is contrasted with mechanical teacher.
III. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words) 1. What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have ? Ans. Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers who taught them history, geography and mathematics. Their mechanical teachers were always ready with a big screen, on which all the lessons were shown and questions were asked of that lesson. A slot was provided in which they would submit their homework and test papers. 2. Why did Margie s mother send for the county inspector ? Ans .Margie was doing worse and worse in the geography tests, so Margie s mother had sent for the county inspector in order to check the mechanical teacher and performance of Margie. 3. What did he do ? Ans. The county inspector took the mechanical teacher apart to repair it. He slowed the geography section to a ten year level. Them he assembled the mechanical teacher back again. 4. Why was Margie doing badly in geography ? What did the county inspector do to help her ? Ans. Margie was doing badly in geography because the level of geography geared a little too quick which was above her level of understanding. The county inspector repaired the mechanical teacher and set the geography section to an average ten year level .
6. Did Margie have regular classes and hours for school ? If so, why ? Ans. Yes, Margie certainly had regular classes and hours. She attended her classes everyday at the same time except Saturday and Sunday. Her mother ensured this because little girls learned better in regular classes. 7. How does Tommy describe the old kind of school ? Ans. Tommy said that the old schools existed centuries ago. The old school used paper books instead of telebooks. There were being taught by a man . All students went to the same building where the teacher told the students things ,gave them homework and asked them questions. The kids came laughing and shouting into the schoolroom, sat together and helped each other in doing homework and went home together at the end of the day . 8. How does Tommy describe the old kind of teachers ? Ans. Tommy said that the old kind of teacher was a man . He taught at a special building to all the kids at the same time. The man told the kids things, gave them homework and asked questions to see if the students understood or not
IV. Answer each of these questions in two or three paragraphs (100 to 150 words) 1. What are main features of the mechanical teachers and the schoolrooms that Margie and Tommy have in the story ? Ans. The given story is set in the frame of future when robotics and mechanics will play the most important role in every domain be it education, commerce or science. In other words we can say that science can rule the world and we will yield to it. In the same futuristic way, Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers for them. The mechanical teacher was a computer screen on which lessons were shown, questions asked and tests given. The students had to put answers to their tests and their homework in a slot. The mechanical teacher took almost no time to calculate their marks. Every mechanical teacher was adjusted to the level of each student. The mechanical teacher was in the house of the student and started flashing everyday at a certain time except Saturday and Sunday. It never fell ill , never forgot to assign homework, never forgot to conduct tests and never forgot to ask questions while teaching the students. Obviously, when there is no human teacher there then the chances of falling ill get reduced because a mechanical teacher is not prone to any sickness except a few fits of mechanical disorder. 2. Why did Margie hate school ? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun ? Ans. The school of Margie was right next to her bedroom. It wasn t fun at all. She had no classmates and her teacher was mechanical. Lately, she had started to hate her school more, as her mechanical teacher had been giving her test after test in geography and she had been doing it badly. She hated it so much that she hoped that the county inspector wouldn t be able to put it back again. She was anticipating that her mechanical teacher would be taken away like Tommy s , but, as there was no such issue with her mechanical teacher, it was put in order very soon. She thought that there must have been a lot of fun in the old schools because all the kids from the whole neighborhood
came laughing and shouting in the schoolyard, sitting together in the school room and going home together at the end of the day. They learned the same things ,so they could help one another in doing homework .Further the teachers were humans. A human teacher must have the sentiments and emotions for the consideration of the students. He would be able to guide them as per their inclination and the choice which the mechanical teacher lacks. Hence, she had the thought that the old kind of schools must have been fun. 3. Do you agree with Margie that schools today are so fun than the school given in the story ? Give reasons for your answer. Ans. I totally agree with Margie that schools today are so fun than the school in the story. In the story, Margie was into homeschooling . Her teacher was mechanical and she had no classmates. One can imagine what a boring and dull school she was having. Whenever we hear the word school , images of children having fun start running through our minds. This wasn t the case with Margie. She could neither play with her friends in the school playground, nor they could all come home together, nor she could think of helping other kids with homework. Moreover, the mechanical teacher gave test after test even if one wasn t performing well without understanding the student s level of understanding. While , the old kinds of school had human teachers to teach the students. There used to be a special building where all the children of the neighborhood came. They had their interactions. They befriend one another. It was a lot of fun to be among the students of the same age group. So, the two different schools have a lot of differences and there used to be different things in the two schools.
EXTRA QUESTIONS OF THE FUN THEY HAD I. Answer in brief (1 mark each) 1. Why was Tommy s teacher taken away? 2. What did Tommy get from the attic? 3. What kind of teachers did the old school have? 4. How does the County Inspector look like? 5. What does regular teacher mean? 6. Where was Margie s school? 7. What strange thing did Margie find about the book? 8. What s the book about? 9. Why was Mrs. Jones of the opinion that girls have regular hours of study? 10. What does special building refer to? I. Answer the following in 30 to 40 words:- (2 marks each) 1. Why was Margie scornful about school? 2. Gee, said Tommy What a waste. What does he refer to as a waste and why? 3. Where and when has Tommy found a real book 4. Give the reason for which Margie s mother shook her head sorrowfully.
5. Why was Margie disappointed? 6. What was strange about the book which Tommy found? 7. Margie was bad in studies. Do you agree? Why/Why Not? 8. The Country Inspector has a major role in proving Margie s performance in studies. How? 9. Mention Tommy s description of the old kind of school. 10. Which kind of school as per Margie was a place of fun? Answer the following questions in about 100 to 150 words (8 Marks each) 1. A school of the present is always lively and evergreen. Do you agree? Elucidate your answer with reference to the lesson. 2. Margie laments that children of the old school had lots of fun. Compare and contrast the old form of schools and futuristic schools by citing examples from the lesson. 3. Margie is of the opinion that human teacher is not smart enough like the mechanical teacher. How did Tommy clarify Margie s doubt? Discuss. 4. Margie hated her school and the mechanical teacher. State the reasons for it and suggest ways to make it lovable. 5. What kind of education is being received by Margie and Tommy? Evaluate it and write its pros and cons in the present context.
Thank you By V S SUNEETA
