The day they abolished school

The day they abolished school

Lesson presented by

Simply English​

First read the story

​It was a hot early summer day when hazy clouds covered the sun and humidity made clothes stick to people like wet handkerchiefs.  Mr. Mario Linden sat amidst boxes full of books, papers, and computer software in the room where he spent his last 33 years teaching.  Mr. Linden had been teaching young people to read, explore, enjoy fine print and write. In his first years as a teacher he taught his students to appreciate literature and books.  They wrote with pens on paper. Later on, the computers were installed in all classrooms and Mr. Linden’s students learned how to use the writing programs. Mr. Linden developed his skills with the technological progress.​

​“We have to keep up with the times, “he argued with his hard core old-school colleagues. “We are the ones who need to open all doors to success for our students. They need us to keep up with technology.” Little did he know then that was the beginning of an end of union power and that the human factor would be completely deleted from schooling. This was twenty years ago. Mr. Linden’s mobile phone rang echoing among the empty classroom walls, spilling the sound over the endless tangles of wires where once PCs stood.

​“Hi, honey,” he answered, and then continued in a sad voice after a pause, “I don’t feel happy. I feel betrayed and helpless. They finally did it. They abolished schools. “Do you know what will take place exactly?” Mrs. Linden wanted to know. “Well, a type of mechanical teacher/computer will be programmed for each child and one of those will be provided for each child in every household. The computers will be connected to the central system supervised by the government,” he elaborated. 

​

​“But didn’t you tell me these computers are error prone in calculating individual needs and levels? Mrs. Linden continued. Mr. Linden sighed, “Of course. The mechanical teacher is a masterpiece of technological revolution, but it is, after all, just a machine. Such machines aren’t emotion sensitive, nor is there a way to make them compatible in this respect. “Oh dear, it’s awful! I had no idea. You always spoke so enthusiastically about all the innovations in high tech field…,” she sympathised with her husband’s disillusion ​

​Then she remembered the times of the e-revolution, when her husband was the hopeful leader in bringing technology into classrooms. How his face beamed with pride when each and every child received a personal laptop. How she loved him. How she adored that young vibrant caring man. But now things acquired a different perspective.  Now, her Mario was retiring with a sense of loss and bitterness. Apparently, things will never be the same again.

​

Find the synonyms, they are all in the text

Answer True, False, or We don't know

Multiple Choice

The history took place when the children went back to school in fall.

• true

• false

• we don't know

Multiple Choice

It was sunny.

• true

• false

• we don't know

Multiple Choice

Mr. Linden was a teacher.

• true

• false

• we don't know

Multiple Choice

He was retiring because he was old.

• true

• false

• we don't know

Multiple Choice

He was teaching English.

• true

• false

• we don't know

Multiple Choice

His students loved reading.

• true

• false

• we don't know

Multiple Choice

They always wrote with a pen.

• true

• false

• we don't know

Multiple Choice

Mr. Linden liked technology.

• true

• false

• we don't know

Multiple Choice

All the teachers wanted to introduce computers in schools.

• true

• false

• we don't know

Multiple Choice

Mr. Linden’s wife was also a teacher.

• true

• false

• we don't know

Multiple Choice

She said that she felt happy for him.

• true

• false

• we don't know

Multiple Choice

Children will study at home from now on.

• true

• false

• we don't know

Multiple Choice

Teacher Linden will become a private teacher.

• true

• false

• we don't know

Multiple Choice

All the children prefer a robot as a teacher.

• true

• false

• we don't know

Multiple Choice

Mr. Linden was sad.

• true

• false

• we don't know

Open Ended

What was the weather like?

Open Ended

What season was it?

Open Ended

Who was Mr. Linden?

Open Ended

Why was he sad?

Open Ended

What was going to happen? Why?

Open Ended

Who was going to teach from now on?