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What had once happened to Tommy’s teacher? Did Margie have regular days and hours for school? If so, why?
Once, Tommy's teacher was taken away for nearly a month because its history sector had blanked out completely. Yes, Margie had regular days and hours for school. The mechanical teacher always turned on at the same time every day except Saturdays and Sundays. This was because her mother believed that learning at regular hours helped little girls learn better.
Do you agree with Margie that schools today are more fun than the school in the story? Give reasons for your answer.
I agree with Margie, as the schools are now innovative, more inclusive, and it feels good with the presence of friends and classmates at schools
How old are Margie and Tommy?
Margie is eleven while Tommy is thirteen years old.
What did Margie write in her diary?
Margie wrote in her diary, Today Tommy found a real book!
Had Margie ever seen a book before?
No, Margie had never seen a book before.
What things about the book did she find strange?
Margie found it strange that the words printed on a book stood still instead of moving the way they did on a screen. She also found it odd that the words on a page always remained the same as the first time they were read. Besides, the idea that someone would write a book about schools was itself strange for Margie.
What do you think a telebook is?
A telebook is a book that can be read on screen. Words move on the screen for the readers to read.
Where was Margie’s school?
What subjects did Margie and Tommy learn?
Margie and Tommy learnt geography, history and arithmetic.
“I wouldn’t throw it away.” (i) Who says these words? (ii) What does ‘it’ refer to? (iii) What is it being compared with by the speaker?
(i) Tommy says these words.
(ii) It refers to the television screen.
(iii) Tommy is comparing the television screen with printed books of the earlier times.
“Sure they had a teacher, but it wasn’t a regular teacher. It was a man.” (i) Who does ‘they’ refer to? (ii) What does ‘regular’ mean here? (iii) What is it contrasted with?
(i) The word they refers to the students who studied in the old kind of schools, centuries before the time the story is set in.
(ii) Here, the term regular refers to the mechanical teachers that Tommy and Margie has.
(iii) The mechanical teacher is contrasted with the teacher of the earlier times, who was a man.
1. What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have?Why did Margie’s mother send for the County Inspector?
Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers with large black screens that flashed lessons and questions. These teachers had slots where the students had to put their homework and test papers.
Margie had been consistently failing to perform well in the geography tests given by her mechanical teacher. In order to find out the reason behind this, her mother sent for the County Inspector.
Why was Margie doing badly in geography? What did the County Inspector do to help her?
Margie was doing badly in geography because the geography sector of the mechanical teacher had been adjusted at a higher level.
In order to help her, the County Inspector slowed down this sector to an average ten-year level.
How does Tommy describe the old kind of school?
Tommy says that the old kind of school existed 'centuries ago'. They had a teacher, who was a man. This teacher taught in a special building, where all the kids assembled and learned the same things according to their respective ages.
How does he describe the old kind of teachers?
Tommy says that the teacher of the old kind were men, who taught the students inside a special building. The teachers taught the children in groups and gave them homework and asked them questions.
What are the main features of the mechanical teachers and the schoolrooms that Margie and Tommy have in the story?
Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers. These teachers were basically large black screens on which the lessons were shown and questions were asked. These teachers were adjusted according to the age and potential of the student concerned. They had a slot in which the students had to put their homework and test papers. The mechanical teacher immediately calculated the marks for the answers written in punch codes by the students. However, these teachers were prone to technical and mechanical failure and troubles.
Their schools were in their homes itself. In fact, Margie's school was right next to her bedroom. Students did not have classmates. They had regular days and hours for school. The mechanical teacher always turned on at the same time every day except Saturdays and Sundays.
Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun?
Margie hated school because it was not fun. She hated the large black screen and the way she had to insert the homework and test papers in the slot on the mechanical teacher. She disliked fact that she had to write her answers in a punch code. Besides, her hatred for school was amplified by her failure to fare well in the geography tests given by her mechanical teacher.
Margie imagined the old kind of school with kids from the entire neighbourhood coming together, laughing and shouting in the schoolyard. She imagined that they would sit together in the classroom and go home together at the end of the day. They would learn the same things and could help one another with the homework. Also, the teachers were people, making the learning process more interactive. All these aspects made her believe that the old kind of school must have been fun.
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