THE FUN THEY HAD (9th BEEHIVE)

GOODWILL EDUCATION

BEST FACULTY-BEST QUALITY

THE FUN THEY HAD (SUMMARY ANALYSIS)

• Tommy finds a "real book" that had been "printed on paper"
• According to Margie's grandfather's grandfather all stories were printed on paper
• Tommy thought it was a waste to have a book printed on paper and he also thought that it was to be thrown away when it was finished being read
• Tommy thought tv screens were better
• The "real book" was found in Tommy's attic and was about school
• Margie hated school and didn't understand why someone would write about school
• Margie was having problems with learning geography from her "mechanical teacher" so the "mechanical teacher" was rebuilt by the county inspector who was nice
• Margie hated doing her homework which had to be written in punch code and turning it into slot in the "mechanical teacher" 
• The "mechanical teacher" graded her home work in "no time"
• The county inspector said the "geography sector" was too fast and that her progress was actually quite "satisfactory"
• Margie had hoped that he "mechanical teacher" would be taken away like Tommy's was because its "history sector" went blank
• Margie asked tommy why anyone would write about school and Tommy said with "superior eyes" that it was a school from "centuries" ago
• Margie was surprised to hear that back in the olden days a "man" would be the teacher
• Margie was surprised to hear Tommy say that his father knew more than his "teacher" which Margie thought was impossible
• Margie said that she wouldn't want a stranger teaching her in her house
• Tommy said that teachers didn't live in a house and that kids went to a "special building" to learn the same thing if they were the same age
• Margie said that her mother said that each "teacher" had to be fitted to each child's mind
• Tommy said that Margie didn't have to read the book if she didn't want to
• Margie wanted to read the old book and what it had to say about "those funny schools"
• When Margie's "Mamma" told he that it was both time for Tommy and Margie to go to school, Margie asked if she could read the book with him after school and Tommy said that may be she could
• The "schoolroom" was next to Margie's bedroom and except for Saturday and Sunday was on at the same time every day
• Margie's "Mamma" said "little girls learned better if they learned at regular hours"
• The "teacher" asked for Margie's homework and she worked on fractions
• Margie thought about the olden days of schooling where everyone started and ended school together, talked about homework together and played together
• Margie thought about a time when teachers were people
• Margie thought that the kids loved being in the "old days" and how they must have had fun
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SHORT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

1. What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have?

Answer: Margie and Tommy have virtual teacher. It is computer fitted with latest gizmos. The computer is programmed to give lessons depending on a child’s age group and previous learning history. The content are highly interactive and children learn from the mechanical teacher. The child needs to submit test papers regularly to the computer and he gets instant feedback in the form of the test result.

2. Why did Margie’s mother send for the County Inspector?

Answer: Margie was not performing up to the mark in her Geography tests. So her mother was worried. She wanted the County Inspector to check if there was some problem with the child or with the virtual teacher.

3. What did he do?

Answer: He found that the computer’s programme was not working properly and was giving lessons, which was of higher level than what Margie’s age required. He rectified the problem and it started giving lessons suitable for Margie’s age group.

4. What had once happened to Tommy’s teacher?

Answer: Tommy’s teacher developed some snag and its History section was blanked out. So it was taken away for a month for repair.

7. Did Margie have regular days and hours for school? If so, why?

Answer: Margie did not have regular days and hours unlike conventional schools. The benefit of virtual classroom is it can be accessed as per your convenience. No more early morning rush for school. You can sleep as late as you wish and can compensate for your study during day time as you wish.

7. How does Tommy describe the old kind of school?

Answer: Tommy said that centuries ago there used to be different kinds of school. There a human teacher used to give same lesson to all boys and girls of same age group. Students had to go to that school to study.

8. How does he describe the old kind of teachers?

Answer: Old kind of teachers was human being. It is surprising how a human being can be smart enough to teach a particular topic.

II. Answer each of these questions in two or three paragraphs (100 –150 words).

Q1.  Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun?

Answer: Her school was always open, seven days in a week. Margie’s teacher was always on at the same time except weekends, because her mother believed that regular study hours result in better learning.

She had no classmates to interact and play with. She thought that old school must have been fun, because, you got the opportunity to play and make fun, with your classmates. It must have been a pleasant experience to study from a human instead of impersonal machine.