New Delhi: The coronavirus pandemic has changed a lot of things for us. One of them is the way education is imparted in schools. Almost all educational institutes shifted from traditional methods of teaching to online learning. While we must have not imagined this situation ever, an Archie comics strip from 1997 seems to have correctly predicted what schooling would look like in 2021.
For those who grew up in the 1990s, Archie comics form an integral part of our childhood. Right from Archie Andrews to best friends Betty and Veronica along with Jughead, many of us still have the precious collection stacked up somewhere in their cartons or cupboards.
The comics strip features a set-up of remote learning, predicting that in 2021 AD, children will have a proper school experience within the comforts of their homes. In the comic strip, Betty Coopers is seen telling her mother that she has “all of thirty seconds” before school starts, something that hit home for many in recent times, logging in just seconds before classes go live.
Apart from the CRP monitor fitted with a video camera used for attending classes at home and her parents’ futuristic attires — the comics got it pretty much bang on.
Don't believe it? Check out the post on their official Twitter page.
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— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) March 16, 2021
[Originally published in Betty #46, Feb. 1997] pic.twitter.com/UNwjBa2gFe
“Kids today are so lucky! They’re able to go to school in their own home,” Betty’s father was sketched as saying 24 years ago. Written by George Gladir, with art by Stan Goldberg, Mike Esposito, Bill Yoshida, and Barry Grossman.
This comics was about Betty and her friends in Riverdale dealing with the struggles of virtual homeschooling!
The second segment eerily shows Betty asking her parents to be quiet, reminding them, “video monitor must remain uncovered at all times.”
Since being shared on Friday, the comics strip has exploded online, racking up more than 31.7 'likes' and hundreds of stunning comments.
Here’s what Archie Comics predicted about 2021. From a 1997 comic, apparently. pic.twitter.com/yTyBv5pzSL
— Raja Sen (@RajaSen) March 18, 2021
Except for the size of the webcam, looks pretty accurate… https://t.co/UfcPYhrhee
— Navneet Nair (@navneetdesigns) March 17, 2021
Why is it so accurate??? ???????????? https://t.co/o72looI9Uk
— JM??????????? (@Zero4oClock) March 17, 2021
yoooooo..... maybe... time travel do exist https://t.co/IBIQhah2D2
— ????s????????ai??d??f?eb?????????ir????????????????? (@herseykuda) March 17, 2021
Wow! So prophetic.???????? https://t.co/nXHwiPf8gN
— Dheerandra Palipi (@dheerandra) March 18, 2021
In 1997 imagination #Onlineclass #OnlineEducation https://t.co/5ixHNO3P6z
— Adi (@aditya0484) March 18, 2021
all right this is somewhat insane https://t.co/iE1yRn5Qe1
— atomickristin (@atomickristin) March 17, 2021
That comic is shockingly prescient about online schooling: "Video monitor must remain uncovered at all times". I was a bit suspicious that this must be a hoax, but I verified that Betty #46 really did have Betty as "a student in the futuristic classrooms of 2021."
— Ken Shirriff (@kenshirriff) March 16, 2021
Here we are 25 years later attending classes online. Who knew this would come true?