“English” Notes Chapter 1.2 The Fun they Had Class 9 Maharashtra Board

Notes For All Chapters – English Class 9

1. About the Story

• “The Fun They Had” is a short story by Isaac Asimov.
• It is set in the future, in the year 2157.
• The story shows how education might change in the future.

2. Main Characters

• Margie Jones – An 11-year-old girl who dislikes her mechanical teacher.
• Tommy – A 13-year-old boy who finds an old book about school.
• County Inspector – A man who repairs Margie’s mechanical teacher.
• Margie’s Mother – Believes in regular study hours for children.

3. Summary

• Tommy finds a real book in the attic, which surprises Margie.
• The book is about old schools, where students learned together in a classroom.
• Margie does not like her school, as she has a mechanical teacher at home.
• Her mechanical teacher gives her too many tests, especially in geography.
• The County Inspector repairs her teacher and slows down its speed.
• Tommy explains how old schools had human teachers and students studied together.
• Margie starts thinking that old schools must have been fun.

4. Important Points

• Margie’s School → A room in her house with a computer-like teacher.
• Old Schools → Students went to a school building and learned with human teachers.
• Margie’s Thoughts → She wishes she could study in an old-fashioned school.

5. Themes of the Story

• Future of Education – Technology may replace traditional schools.
• Isolation vs. Social Learning – Margie studies alone, while old schools had group learning.
• Importance of Human Teachers – Machines can teach, but they lack emotions and understanding.

6. Message of the Story

• Schools are not just for learning, but also for having fun and making friends.
• Technology should not replace human interaction in education.
• Traditional schools help children learn better by studying together.