The Fun They Had
The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov imagines schooling in the distant future and contrasts it with the schools of today. The page gives a clear summary, the theme, the characters and exam-style questions.
Learning objectives
- Recall the events of the story.
- Understand the contrast between future and present schools.
- Describe Margie and Tommy.
- Answer comprehension and exam questions.
Key concepts
Summary
The story is set in the future, in the year 2157, where children study at home alone with mechanical teachers and electronic 'telebooks' instead of printed books. Two children, Margie and Tommy, are amazed to find a real, old-fashioned printed book. As they read it, they learn that in the past children went to special school buildings, studied together in classrooms, and were taught by human teachers. Margie, who hates her mechanical teacher and her lonely lessons, becomes fascinated by this idea. She begins to imagine how much fun the children of the old days must have had, learning together with friends and a human teacher.
Theme
The story contrasts impersonal, machine-based learning with the warmth of traditional schooling. It highlights the value of human teachers and of learning together with other children, suggesting that companionship and human contact make education enjoyable. It also gently warns against a future where technology replaces human connection.
Characters
Margie is a curious young girl who dislikes her mechanical teacher and her solitary lessons, and who longs for the fun of old-fashioned schools. Tommy is a slightly older, knowledgeable boy who finds the printed book and explains the old schools to her. The mechanical teacher and a County Inspector also appear, representing the cold, automated system of the future.
About the author
Isaac Asimov was a famous American writer of science fiction. In this imaginative story he uses a future world of machines to make readers value the human and social side of learning, reminding us how special togetherness and real teachers are.
Key definitions
- Telebook
- An electronic book shown on a screen, used in the future world of the story.
- Mechanical teacher
- A machine that teaches children in the story's future.
- Loftily
- In a proud, superior manner, as Tommy sometimes speaks.
- Nonchalantly
- In a casual, unconcerned way.
Solved examples
Q1. In what year is the story set?
Solution: In the future, in the year 2157.
Q2. What surprising object do Margie and Tommy find?
Solution: A real, old-fashioned printed book.
Q3. Why does Margie hate her school?
Solution: Because she learns alone with a mechanical teacher, which she finds joyless.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Thinking the story is set in the past (it is in the future, 2157).
- Confusing telebooks with printed books.
- Forgetting that Margie dislikes her mechanical teacher.
- Missing the contrast between machine learning and human schools.
The Fun They Had — MCQ Quiz
10 questions with instant feedback. Use number keys 1–4 to answer.
The Fun They Had was written by:
Practice questions
Short answer
What did Margie and Tommy find?
A real, old-fashioned printed book.
How are children taught in the story's future?
Alone at home by mechanical teachers.
What does Margie imagine about old schools?
That children there had a lot of fun learning together.
Long answer
How does 'The Fun They Had' contrast schooling in the future with schooling today?
The story draws a sharp contrast between two very different kinds of schooling. In the future world of 2157, children like Margie study completely alone at home, taught by mechanical teachers through electronic telebooks, with lessons fixed and impersonal; Margie finds this lonely and joyless and dislikes her mechanical teacher. When she and Tommy discover a real printed book, they learn about schools of the past — the very schools we know today — where children went to special buildings, sat together in classrooms, and were taught by human teachers. To Margie, this old way of learning seems wonderful, full of companionship and fun. Through this contrast, Asimov shows that learning together with other children and being taught by real human teachers brings warmth and enjoyment that machines cannot provide, making the reader appreciate the human side of education.
Why does Margie come to think that the children of the past had fun, and what does this suggest?
Margie comes to think that the children of the past had fun because, through the old printed book, she discovers a kind of schooling completely different from her own lonely, mechanical lessons. She learns that long ago children studied together in school buildings, shared the same classroom, helped one another, and were taught by human teachers who could understand them. Compared with her isolated learning at home with a machine she dislikes, this togetherness seems joyful and exciting, and she begins to imagine the laughter and friendship those children must have shared. This suggests that the social side of education — the company of friends and the warmth of human teachers — is a vital part of what makes learning enjoyable. The story gently warns that a future relying entirely on machines might gain efficiency but lose the human connection that makes school special.
HOTS (Higher Order Thinking)
Why might learning with other children be more enjoyable than learning alone?
Because children can share ideas, help and encourage one another, and enjoy friendship and companionship, which makes learning lively and fun rather than lonely.
What does the story suggest about relying too much on technology?
It suggests that while technology can teach, it may lack the warmth and human connection of real teachers and classmates, which are an important part of a good education.
Quick revision
Revision notes
- Author: Isaac Asimov; science fiction set in 2157.
- Margie and Tommy find a real printed book; future uses telebooks and mechanical teachers.
- They learn of old schools: children together, human teachers.
- Margie imagines such schools were fun; theme = value of human teachers and togetherness.
Key takeaways
- Learning together with human teachers is joyful.
- Machines cannot fully replace human connection.
- The story values the social side of education.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote The Fun They Had?
The American science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov.
When is the story set?
In the future, in the year 2157.
What is the theme?
The value of human teachers and of learning together, versus impersonal machine learning.