lessons from a machine: life of james and maria

8/12/2019 Lessons from a machine: life of James and Maria

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James, 8, and his sister Maria, 4, live withtheir parents in an ordinary, suburbanhouse. James and Marias parents usethe system and allow it to enhance theirlives by assisting the upbringing of theirchildren. They see it as a way of bringingthe family closer, not disengaging themfrom James and Maria. They are interestedin the way that the system rewardsthe children for engaging with schooland social ideals.

P GE 1


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Every morning the system resetsthe free time monitor to zero. Theyare able to monitor the childrens dailysuccesses and reward them with the

allotted absolute free time. By trustingthe system to calculate their childrensdevelopment, James and Marias parentscan gage their childrens learningand understand the developmentof their social etiquette.

P GE 2 (PRINT ON THE REVERSE OF P GE 1)


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P GE 3


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The system helps James developacademically. The Greenspoon Effectis a teaching programme that aidschildrens learning, it uses a reward system

but unlike the marshmallow test, it doesreward with material goods. Jamesis asked to recite types of words plurals,verbs, adjectives the system rewards himwith praise when he is right but respondsdiscerningly when he is wrong.

P GE 3 (PRINT ON THE REVERSE OF P GE 3)


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Maria attends a nearby nursery.Her engagement with the system is a lotless than James. In nursery, the systemencourages tactile play and allows Mariato choose her own learning. {She responds

well to clay and its pliability. She does notenjoy playing with water or sand, as theycannot be built with so easily.} For Maria,the system is more of an encouragerthan an instructor and it relays her playinterests to her parents.


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8/18

Their parents encourage both Jamesand Maria to involve themselves

in organised playing activities.It is important for their children to havehuman contact away from the system.


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When James and Maria are doing this,

the system watches and monitors but doesnot instruct. James attends fencing classeswhile Maria enjoys her ballet lessons.


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At home, their time is divided betweenschoolwork, relaxing and family time.This is a schedule drawn up by the system.The frst thing to be done is homework,

this is supervised and aided by the system

while James and Marias parents preparedinner. Maria, whose homework is minimal,is able to play with her toys thisis monitored by the system that usesher play tendencies of nursery to suggestways of playing at home.


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James is rewarded, for his good behaviourand results in the marshmallowexperiment, with 35 minutes of absolutefree time. In this, he is able to play gamesindependently of his parents but also

the system. The video games that James,and others in his class play, are similarto the structure of life under the system.Their lives and actions are monitoredand achievements rewarded.Their progression in life is likethat of a game.


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Once James homework is completed, thefamily sit down to eat. The system has toldthe parents that family time like this,and also reading to them and playing

games, is good for James and Mariasdevelopment. The parents do as suggestedwithout question. The system informedher father to read to her before bed,as her reward for the day.


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They have placed absolute faithin the system, believing what it tells themabout their childrens progress. This allowsthem to focus on work and keepingthe house in order without having

to monitor James and Maria. They aredetached but believe that their family unitis a strong one. The emphasis, provided bythe system, on timed family activitiesis strong. Without the systems instructionsthey would not know what to do.

lessons from a machine: life of james and maria

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