The Fun They Had
CBSE Class 9 English – Notes, Summary & Study Material
📑 Table of Contents
📖 Detailed Summary
“The Fun They Had” is set in the future, where children no longer attend traditional schools, and books are replaced by computers and mechanical teachers. The story follows Margie and Tommy, two children who discover a real paper book, a relic from the past. Margie writes in her diary about the experience of seeing words that do not move on a screen and turning yellow, crinkly pages.
Tommy shows Margie a book about school from hundreds of years ago, sparking curiosity and amusement. The book describes how children attended physical schools, learned together, and had human teachers who gave lessons, homework, and asked questions. This contrasts sharply with Margie’s experience with a mechanical teacher, which she finds tedious and impersonal. Margie struggles with geography tests, and the County Inspector adjusts the mechanical teacher for her pace, but she is disappointed, wishing for a more natural form of learning.
Through reading, Margie imagines the joy of children in the old schools, learning together, helping each other with homework, and enjoying the company of friends and human teachers. The mechanical teacher, while efficient, cannot replicate the personal connection and excitement of traditional schooling. The story emphasizes how technology can make learning convenient but may lack the social and emotional experiences that make education enjoyable.
Overall, Asimov contrasts the mechanical, solitary schooling of the future with the fun, interactive, and human-centered education of the past, highlighting the value of companionship, shared learning, and the simple joys of childhood in a school environment.
👤 Character Sketches
- Margie – An eleven-year-old girl who finds the idea of old schools fascinating; curious, imaginative, and thoughtful.
- Tommy – A thirteen-year-old boy who discovers a real book; knowledgeable about the old way of schooling and eager to share it with Margie.
- County Inspector – A round man who adjusts Margie’s mechanical teacher to suit her learning speed; represents efficiency and authority.
🌟 Themes & Message
- Futuristic education and the impact of technology on learning.
- Importance of human interaction in schooling.
- Curiosity and imagination spark learning and wonder.
- Contrast between mechanical efficiency and social-emotional growth.
📌 Important Question-Answers
Q1. What is the story ‘The Fun They Had’ about?
👉 It is about children in the future discovering an old paper book and learning how schools and education were conducted hundreds of years ago, highlighting the differences between past and future schooling.
Q2. How is the mechanical teacher different from the old human teachers?
👉 The mechanical teacher is impersonal, precise, and efficient but lacks interaction, companionship, and the social aspect of traditional schooling.
Q3. Why was Margie fascinated by the old book?
👉 She was fascinated because the book was real, the words were printed on paper, and it described schools where children learned together with human teachers.
Q4. What lesson does the story convey about education?
👉 While technology can make learning easier, human interaction, shared learning, and companionship are essential for a joyful and meaningful educational experience.