Use the following monologues for making imaginary interviews with the speakers on the current problems of education.


Mona Thompson, 47, comprehensive school teacher


It's easy for the experts to tell us how to teach. I wish they'd tell my fourteen-year-olds how to learn. I think study techniques are becoming most important today. Besides, I wonder how I should motivate my teenagers to read. Of course, there are plenty of interesting books in the library, but the boys and girls in my class aren't interested in them. All they care about is football or pop music. It's no use telling them to read. I've tried, but they don't listen.


John Kemeny, 60, mathematician


I believe that education will continue to be one of the important areas for computer applications. I have, however, two major prejudices against computer-aided education. They are, first, that the computer is a very expensive substitute for a book, and, second, that it is a very poor substitute for a teacher. It is much more sensible to let students read a page, or better a chapter, of a book on their own and then go to the computer terminal to be drilled or tested. CAI programs are most effective for rote learning and mechanical drill.