NEL

Before you read, with a

partner, recall some of the
best school experiences
you had when you were Il
The
He smiled at her and
years old.
As you read, compare gave her an apple, then They Hod
your own early school took the teacher apart.
experiences with
Margie's.

Short Story by Isaac Asimov

Margie even wrote it that night in her diary. On the page headed May 17,
2155, she wrote, "Today Tommy found a real book! "
It was a velY old book. Margie's grandfather once said that when he
was a little boy his grandfather told him there was a time all stories were
Notes printed on paper.
Isaac Asimov (1 920— They turned the pages, which were yellow and crinkly, and it
1992), a Russian-born was awfully funny to read words that stood still instead of moving
American writer, is the way they were supposed to—on a screen, you know. And then,
considered one of the when they turned back to the page before, it had the same words
great sciencefiction
authors. He wrote more on it that it had had when they read it the first time.
than 500 books covering "Gee," said Tommy, "what a waste. When you're through
virtually all areas of with the book, you just throw it away, I guess. Our television
knowledge. screen must have had a n*llion books on it and it's good for
plenty more. I wouldn't throw it away. "
"Same with mine," said Margie. She was 11 and hadn't seen as many
telebooks as Tommy had. He was 13.
She said, "Where did you find it?"
"In my house." He pointed without looking, because he was busy
reading. "In the attic."
"What's it about?"
"School. "
Margie was scornful. "School? What's there to write about
school? I hate school." Margie always hated school, but now she
hated it more than ever. The mechanical teacher had been giving
her test after test in geography and she had been doing worse and
worse until her mother had shaken her head sorrowfully and sent
for the County Inspector.

The Fun They Had 5

 little man with a red face and a whole box of tools wires. He
smiled at her and gave her an apple, then took
Margie had hoped he wouldn't know how to put it but he knew how
He was a round
all right and after an hour or so, there it and black and ugly with a
with dials and the
teacher big screen on which all the and the questions were asked. That wasn't
apart.
so bad.
together again, was
again, large lessons most was the slot where she
were shown The had to put homework She
part she hated and always had to write them out in
test papers. made a punch code they when she
her learn calculated was six years old, and the
the mechanical teacher mark in no
The Inspector time.
He said to her the
had smiled after he was finished
geography
and patted her head. mother, "It's
sometimes. I've
overall pattern of not the little girl's fault, Mrs.
Wlargie's head Jones. I think sector was geared
Margie was a little too quick. Those things
teacher away happen slowed it up to an
nearly a month average 10-year level. Actually,
So she said the her progress is quite
to Tommy looked satisfactory." And he patted
kind of school, again.
hundreds and
word carefully,
Margie was
all that time ago."
said, "Anyway,

6 Future Considerations
 Tommy
teachers kids
went
"And
"Sure,
"But each disappointed. She had been hoping they would take the
boy altogether. They had once taken Tommys teacher away for
differently. because the history sector had blanked out completely.
"Just don't Tommy, "Why would anyone write about school?" at her with
have very superior eyes. "Because it's not our stupid. This is the old
"I kind of school that they had hundreds of years ago." He added
about loftily, pronouncing the "Centuries ago." hurt. "Well, I don't Imow
They what kind of school they had
"Margie!
She read the book over his shoulder for a while, then they had
Margie
a teacher. "
"Now,"
"Sure they had a teacher, but it wasn't a regular teacher. It was a man. "
Margie
"A man? How could a man be a teacher?"
after
"Well, he just told the boys and girls things' and gave them homework and asked them
"Maybe,"
questions. '
old book "A man isn't smart enough."
Margie and the at "Sure he is. My father knows as much as my teacher. "
the mother
The "He can't. A man can't know as much as a teacher. "
addition "He knows almost as much, I betcha. "
proper Margie wasn't prepared to dispute that. She said, "I wouldn't want a strange man in
Margiemy house to teach me. "
they had screamed with laughter. "You don't know much, Margie.
from the The didn't live in the house. They had a special building and
schoolyard, all the there. " all the kids learned the same thing?" if they
the end another were the same age." my mother says a teacher has to be
And adjusted to fit the mind of and girl it teaches and that each kid
The the has to be taught
fractions
" the same they didn't do it that way then. If you don't like it, you
Margie old
to read the book." didn't say I didn't like it," Margie said quickly.
days.
She wanted to read those funny schools.
weren't even half finished when Margie's mother called,
School!" looked up. "Not yet, Mamma." said Mrs. Jones. "And it's
probably time for Tommy, too." said to Tommy, "Can I read the book
some more with you school?" he said nonchalantly. He walked away
whistling, the dusty tucked beneath his arm.
NEL
went into the schoolroom. It was right next to her bedroom,
mechanical teacher was on and waiting for her. It was always on same
time every day except Saturday and Sunday, because her said little
girls learned better if they learned at regular hours.
 screen was lit up, and it said: "Today's arithmetic lesson is on the of
proper fractions. Please insert yesterdays homework in the slot." did so
with a sigh. She thinking about the old schools when her grandfathe€s
grandfather was a little boy. All the kids whole neighbourhood came,
laughing and shouting in the sitting together in the schoolroom, going
home together at of the day. They learned the same things so they could
help one on the homework and talk about it. the teachers were people
mechanical teacher was flashing on the screen: "When we add
— and —1
4 was thinking about how the kids must have loved it in the She was
thinking about the fun they had.

The Fun They Had 7