The Fun They Had
Summary
About the Author
Isaac Asimov was an American
author and professor of
biochemistry at Boston University,
best known for his works of science
fiction and for his popular
science books. Asimov was one of
the most prolific writers of alil time,
having written or edited more than
500 books and an estimated 90,000
letters and postcards.
Summary
The story opens with Margie writing in her diary on the page
headed May 15, 2157. Tommy and Margie are pleasantly
Surprised to find a book with pale yellow papers. Tommy
found it in his attic. They could not believe that their previous
generations read and studied from something like that.
The writer has convinced the readers that it's
a futuristic set up and education was imparted
through machines and not human teachers.
They were amused to read how different the
education system was years back.
Margie hated her method of studying and learning. She
was given instructions by the mechanical teacher. Margie
solved the questions and inserted them in a slot. The
mechanical teacher was too quick and checked her
answers in no time. Margie hated Geography as she
repeatedly did not perform well in the subject.
As a result the County Inspector was called to understand
the reason of Margie's poor performance. He found that
there was nothing wrong with Margie. The machine was too
fast for Margie. Margie expected that the mechanical
teacher will be taken away; however, the County Inspector
adjusted its speed as per Margie's level.
Tommy shares with Margie that in previous times the students
had to go to school and studied with other children. Tommy
and Margie when not even reached the half of the book
Margie's mother called her. She went to her schoolroom and
found her mechanical teacher waiting for her. The mechanical
teacher was to teach her a lesson on arithmetic.
thought of old schools where all the students studied
together. They had a chance to mingle, interact, socialise
and form bonds.
From the author's perspective, the story is utopian in
nature. However, from the perspective of the main
characters of the story, it was a matter of amusement to
see how education was different ages ago. The text under
discussion is a very unusual one, not because of plot
structure but because of the idea.
It can also be taken that the author tried to mock through
comic elements and elements of amusement at the
education system in the years to come.
mechanical that children wont experience tenderness
and love of a human teacher which is needed to raise
individuals of fine characters. Machines can only impart
knowledge but not the human values. While studying in
a school, a child interacts with other children of his age
and form bonds. The mechanical educational system will
put an end to social bonding.
Also learning with other kids of your age could be
motivational.
The theme is actually the influence of
technology on society. The whole story circles
around the theme of technology and how
children in this version of the future and how
children today interact with that.
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