"Vernor Vinge - Fast Times at Fairmont High" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vinge Vernor)

тАЬNext you'll be teaching rock-chipping!тАЭ said Patsy.
The Alcalde ignored the interruption. тАЬOur graduates must
be capable of doing well in outages, even in disasters. If they
can't, we have not properly educated them!тАЭ He paused,
glared all around the room. тАЬBut this is no survivalist school.
We're not dropping you into a jungle. Your unaided skills test
will be at a safe location our faculty have chosenтАФperhaps an
Amish town, perhaps an obsolete suburb. Either way, you'll
be doing good, in a safe environment. You may be surprised
at the insights you get with such complete, old-fashioned
simplicity.тАЭ
Patsy had crossed her arms and was glaring back at the
Alcalde. тАЬThat's nonsense, but okay. There's still the question.
Your school brochure brags modern skills, and these
concurrent exams are supposed to demonstrate that you've
delivered. So how can you call an exam concurrent, if part of
the time your students are stripped of all technology? Huh?тАЭ
7
 Fast Times at Fairmont High
by Vernor Vinge


Mr. Alcalde stared at Patsy for a moment, his fingers
tapping on the podium. Juan had the feeling that some
intense discussion was going on between them. Patsy's PaтАФ
assuming that's who it wasтАФhad gone considerably beyond
the limits of acceptable behavior. Finally, the principal shook
his head. тАЬYou miss-take our use of the word тАШconcurrent'. We
don't mean that all team members work at the same time all
the time, but simply that they multitask the exam in the
midst of their other activitiesтАФjust as people do with most
real-world work nowadays.тАЭ He shrugged. тАЬIn any case, you
are free to skip the final examinations, and take your
transcript elsewhere.тАЭ
Patsy's image gave a little nod and abruptly sat down,
looking very embarrassed; evidently her Pa had passed
control back to herтАФnow that he had used her image and
made a fool of her. Geez.
Bertie looked faintly miffed, though Juan doubted this had
anything to do with sympathy for Patsy.
After a moment, Mr. Alcalde continued, тАЬPerhaps this is a
good time to bring up the subject of body piercings and
drugs.тАЭ He gave a long look all around. It seemed to Juan
that his gaze hung an instant in his direction. Caray, he
suspects about the pills! тАЬAs you know, all forms of body
piercings are forbidden at Fairmont Schools. When you're
grown, you can decide for yourselfтАФbut while you are here,
no piercings, not even ear- or eye-rings, are allowed. And
internal piercings are grounds for immediate dismissal. Even
if you are very frightened of the unaided skills test, do not try