THE FUN

THEY HAD

BY ISAAC ASIMOV

PART 2
 SUMMARY
● The story predicts the future of schooling in the year 2157
when paper books have become relics.

● The thirteen-year-old Tommy finds a 'real book' printed on

paper. He and Margie, who is eleven, find it strange that
the words on paper do not move after having been read.
The book is about school centuries ago.

● The education referred to in the book is mostly consistent

with our current modes of education. Margie hates school
and cannot understand why someone would write about
it.
 SUMMARY...contd.
● Margie hates the slot where she has to insert her
homework or test papers.  She is surprised that in the past,
pupils had a man as a teacher and that all children of the
same age learnt the same thing and went to a school
building with other children.

● Though at first Margie is sceptical about the notion, by the

end of the story she daydreams about what it must have
been like and the fun they must have had. She imagines a
happy, rich learning environment as compared to her
isolated and boring situation.
MIND MAP
 QUESTIONS

Reference to Context (Solved)

‘The mechanical teacher was flashing on the screen:
“When we add fractions ½ and ¼ ...” Margie was thinking
about how the kids must have loved it in the old days.’
 QUESTIONS...contd.

a) What was Margie trying to analyse that led her to think that
the kids had a good time?
Ans. Margie learnt about schools that existed centuries ago
from an old book that Tommy shared with her and was
comparing her educational experiences to those she imagined
her ancestors had.
 QUESTIONS...contd.

b) Why couldn’t Margie enjoy school the way kids did in the old
days?
Ans. Margie studied alone at home with a mechanical teacher,
following a system of education that was completely
computerized and estranged from social interactions.
 QUESTIONS...contd.

Reference to Context (Unsolved)

He was a round little man with a red face and a whole box of
tools with dials and wires. He smiled at Margie and gave her
an apple, then took the teacher apart.

a) Who is 'He' and 'the teacher' in the above lines?

b) Why did ‘ he’ take the teacher apart?

 QUESTIONS...contd.

Short Question (Solved)

1. Describe the book that Tommy had found in the attic.

What was it about?
Ans. The book that Tommy found was old and had yellow and
crinkly pages with words that stood still instead of moving
the way they were supposed to on a screen or a telebook. It
contained information about schools that existed centuries
ago.
 QUESTIONS...contd.
Short Questions (Unsolved)

1. How did a chance discovery of a paper book leave Margie

and Tommy awestruck?

2. At the beginning of the lesson, what does Margie write in

her diary? Why does she choose to write this?

3. How is the book Tommy found different from the books

that Margie is used to?

4. Tele-books and e-books are need of the hour especially

when we have to save trees, paper and other resources.
Comment with reference to the lesson.
 QUESTIONS...contd.
Long Question (Solved)
What was Margie’s school like?
Margie’s schoolroom stood right next to her bedroom. In the
schoolroom there was just the student and the mechanical
teacher. When Margie entered, the mechanical teacher would
be waiting for her. It was always on at the same time every
day except Saturday and Sunday, because her mother said
little girls learned better if they learned at regular hours. The
screen would light up, and it would then display various
instructions such as the lessons for each day. It would then
teach Margie each lesson by displaying instructions and
lessons. Often the mechanical teacher would ask Margie to
insert the previous day’s homework in the proper slot.
 QUESTIONS...contd.

Long Questions (Unsolved)

1. How do you feel about a system of education where

students learn only by computer? What do you think the
advantages and disadvantages of such a system would be
for students?
2. Compare and contrast the human teachers and the
mechanical teachers on the basis of the chapter.
3. Do you agree with Margie that schools today are more
fun than the school in the story? Give reasons for your
answer.