Before you read, with partner, recall tome of the best school experlonces ‘you had when you were 1H years old. [As you read, co pow oun eaty seal ‘perience with Margie’ Notes Isaac Asimov (1920-1992), 3 Russan-born American ‘water, considered one Of the great science fictlon authors. He wrote ‘more than 500 books ‘covering virally al reas ‘of koe ge The Fun wees They Had took the teacher gpa Short Story by Isaac Asimov Margie ven wrote it hat sight inher. On the page headed May 17) 2155, she wrote, “Today Tomayy und a ral book!” twas a very old book Margi’ grandfather once said that when he was litle boy is grandfather told him there was a imal stories were printed on paper: “They tured the pages, which were yellow andi and it was ‘svflly funny to read words that tood still instead of moving the way ‘hey were supposed fo—on a sre>n, you know. And then, when they tured back o the page befor ithed the same words omit that it had hha when they read itthe frst tine “Gee” said Tommy, “what a vaste. When you'e through with the book, you just throw it away, guess. Our television screen must have hada nglion books on it and is good for plenty more, woulda’ thaow it aay.” “Same with mine. sald Sarge. She was 1H/and hadn't seen as many telebooks as Tommy had. He was 13. She sid, ‘Where did you find it” “in my house.” He pointed without looking, because he was busy reading. “Inthe atic" “Whats it about” *Schaol.” “Margie was scomfil. “School! Whats there to write about school? [ite School." Marge always hated schol, but nw she hated it more ‘than ever. The mechanical eacher had been giving her test after test in ‘e0gr—phy and she had been doing worseand worse until hecmother ‘had shaken her head sorzowfully and sent fo the County Inspector. ‘The Fun They Had 5.“6 Future Considerations ‘He was around lige man witha red face and a whole box of tools wth dials and wites. He smiled at her and gave heran apple then took ‘he teacher apart, Margie had hoped lhe wouldnt know how to put it together again, but he knew how allright and after an hour oro, there it vas again large and black and uy with a big screen on which all the Jessons were shown ang the questions wereasked. That wasnt so bad. “The part she hated most was the slot where she had to put homework and test papers, She always had to write themout in @ punch code chey ‘nade her lean when she was six years ol, andthe mechanical wacher calculated the marin 90 time. ‘The Inspector had smiled afer he was finished and patted her head. He said to her mother, “Its not the litle gi’ fault, rs. Jones. think ‘the geography sector was geared alte too quick. Those things happen sometimes. Ive slowed it up to an average 10;year level Acwall, che ‘overall pattem of her progress is quite satisfactory." And he patted _Margie’s head again ‘Margie was disappointed, She had been Napili they would take the teacher aay altogether. They had once taken Tommy’ teacher away for nearly a month because the history sector had blanked out completely ‘So she said to Tommy, “Why would anyone write about school?” ‘Torumy looked at her wih very superior eyes. “Because its not Out kindof schoo! stupid. This is the old kindof school unt they had hundreds and hundzeds of years ago.” He added lofi, pronouncing the ‘word carefully, “Centuries ago.” ‘Margie was hur. “Wel | don't know what kind of school they had all shat time ago.” She tead the book over his shoulder fora while hen said, “Anyway, they bad a teacher” < “Sure they had a teacher, butiEWSt a gular teachet. twas aman.” “A man? How could a man be a teacher?” ‘Wl: jut tod the boys and gis things and gave them homework and asked ther questions “a man int emart enough.” “Sure he i. Myrfather knows asia my teacher “He can't, A man can't know as much asa teacher” “He knows almost as much, I betcha." ‘Margie wasn't prepared to dispute that. She said, “1 woulda’ want a strange man in my house to teach meTomy sees wih IHUBHIE. “You don't know much, Margie. The teachers did't ive in the house. They had a special building and all the Jide went there” “And all the kids leamed the same thing?” “Sure if they were the same age" “But my mother saysa teacher has to be Hjusted to fc them of each boy and gilt teaches and that each kid as tobe aught ferent.” “tus te same they didnt do that way then. HUNT Key, don't have to read the book.” “I didn't say I didntlike ig” Margie said quilly. She Wate TO about those funny schools “they werent even half finished when Margi's mother called, “Margie! School!” ™ Margie looked up. ‘Not ye, Mamma.” “Now,” said Mrs. Jones. “And it's probably time for Tommy 100." ‘Marge said to Tory, “Can Jread the book somemore with you afterschool” “Maybe” he said nonchalandy. He walked away whistling, the dusty fold book tucked beneath his ann, ‘Mage went into the schoolroom, It was ight next to her bedrootn. and the mechanical tacier vas on and waiting for her. tas aways on st the same time every day except Saturday and Sunday, because her siother ead idle gals Jered beter if they leasned at regular hours “The screen was iti, and it said: “Todays arithmetic lesson ison the ‘daltion of proper factions Pease insert yesterday’s homework n the propersloc” ‘Margie ld so with asigh, She vis thinking about the old schools they had when her grandfathers grandfather vas a lite boy. all the kids ‘from the whole neighboushood came, laughing and shouting in the ‘schoolyard, siting together in the schoolroom, going home together at the end ofthe day. They learned the ame things so they could help one another on the homework and talk about it ‘And the teaciers were people... ‘The mechani teacier was Mashing on the screen. “When we add the fractions and 2—" Marge wa inking about how de kids must have loved iin the ‘ld days She was thinking about the fun they had. ‘The Fun They Had 7