The fun they had - Book information

Book title
The fun they had

Author
Isaac Asimov

Bibliographic information

Publisher: Doubleday

The Best of Isaac Asimov

ISBN: 978-0385050784

Links (adaptations, reviews, full texts etc.)

Theme
The things we take for granted because we don’t know more; we grow up with them and we don’t even imagine they can be different.

Short summary
Set in the year 2155 (2157 in some later versions), when children learn individually at home using a mechanical teacher, the story tells of eleven-year-old Margie Jones, whose neighbour Tommy finds a real book. The book tells about a time when children learned by age group in large schools that were not merely designated rooms in private houses as in the year 2157. Margie and Tommy discuss what it must have been like to study together with a real person as a teacher, and though at first Margie is skeptical about the notion, by the end of the story she daydreams about what it must have been like and 'the fun they had'.

Why is the story appropriate for the targeted groups of RSP readers?

It reflects readers´ interests
It’s highly motivational
It reflects political/historical moment
recommendations and the report emerged from the survey results

What are the distinguished readers interests reflected by this book/story?
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Why is this story motivational for the pupils?
The short story is a memory of traditional schools when students still visited schools. There is the irony that our students do not appreciate the possibility of visiting schools and having classmates.

Is there a historical, political, multi/inter cultural, migrant or similar context recognized in this book/story?
The story depicts the future vision of schools and there is a comparison with the contemporary schools.

Is there a principle of inclusion reflected in this book/story and does it promotes understanding of cultural diversities and heritage?
The short story shows that schools do not provide only education but relationships and cooperation with teachers and classmates can contribute to our personal development.