Comparison of Real-life School to Oasis Public School from Ready Player One

In the book *Ready Player One*, the public school in the OASIS is portrayed as an idealized version of real-life education. Many readers, including myself, find the concept incredibly appealing—after all, who wouldn’t want to attend a school free from bullying, overcrowding, and distractions? In *Ready Player One*, Wade Watts describes OASIS schools as places where “no one ever nails you with a spitball in the back of the head” and where learning is immersive and exciting. Compared to the real-life schools I have experienced, there are many similarities and differences between the OASIS public school and traditional schools, particularly in areas such as teaching quality, classroom overcrowding, student engagement, and school violence.

Teachers: Passion vs. Classroom Struggles

Unlike real-world teachers, most of the OASIS public school educators genuinely enjoy their jobs. This is likely because they do not have to spend a large portion of their time managing classroom behavior and dealing with disruptions. Instead, they can focus entirely on teaching. In Wade’s case, he finds that most of his teachers are enthusiastic and knowledgeable, something that isn’t always guaranteed in real life. As he puts it, “My teachers seemed to genuinely enjoy their jobs, probably because they didn’t have to spend half their time acting as babysitters and disciplinarians.”

In contrast, real-world teachers often struggle to balance instruction with classroom management. Even the most dedicated educators sometimes find themselves battling disengaged or disruptive students. As any student in a traditional school can tell you, “Miss, can I go to the bathroom?” is sometimes asked just to escape a boring lecture, and a teacher’s patience is often tested by students who aren’t interested in learning. Despite this, real-world schools do teach essential social skills—how to communicate, collaborate, and work through disagreements—skills that aren’t easily replicated in a virtual school setting like the OASIS.

Classroom Overcrowding: Infinite Virtual Space vs. Limited Physical Space

One of the biggest advantages of the OASIS public school is that classroom overcrowding doesn’t exist. The school is located on a virtual planet called *Ludus*, where the number of schools can expand infinitely to accommodate students. This means no crammed desks, no packed hallways, and no struggling to hear the teacher over a noisy classroom.

In contrast, real-life schools often struggle with overcrowding. In many schools, a single teacher may be responsible for over 30 students in one classroom. Hallways between classes can resemble a packed subway station during rush hour, and restrooms frequently have long lines, making a quick break between classes almost impossible. As one frustrated student once told me, “By the time I reach the front of the line, I’ve already missed half of my next class.” These logistical struggles make traditional schooling much more chaotic than the seamless environment of the OASIS.

Student Engagement: Interactive Learning vs. Traditional Methods

One of the biggest draws of the OASIS school is how it keeps students engaged. Instead of just reading about ancient Rome, students can take a virtual field trip there. Instead of watching a video about the solar system, they can fly through space and see the planets up close. Wade, for example, takes advantage of these experiences because they allow him to explore new places without spending real-world money. As he reflects, “Our teachers could take us on virtual field trips every day, without ever leaving the school grounds.”

Real-world schools attempt to combat student apathy as well, though their methods are more limited. Schools organize field trips to museums and historical sites, and many offer extracurricular activities like sports, theater, and clubs to keep students engaged. However, these activities often depend on funding and accessibility. Not every student can afford a school trip to Washington, D.C., and not every school can afford high-tech learning tools. As one of my teachers once said, “We do the best we can with what we have.” While real-world schools make an effort, they can’t compete with the instant, immersive experiences offered in the OASIS.

School Violence: A Digital Solution vs. Real-World Challenges

One of the most striking differences between the OASIS school and real-world schools is the approach to bullying and violence. In the OASIS, students can simply mute bullies, cutting them off entirely. This is exactly what Wade does when classmates try to harass him: “I could mute anyone who tried to talk to me, which meant they couldn’t bother me at all.” Additionally, combat between students is disabled on *Ludus*, preventing physical fights from ever occurring.

Real-world schools don’t have the luxury of a “mute” button. While anti-bullying policies, counseling programs, and disciplinary actions exist, they are not always effective. Some schools implement peer mediation programs, while others impose strict rules, but bullying is still a widespread issue. If a fight breaks out, schools may call in parents, suspend students, or even involve law enforcement. But as one school administrator once told me, “You can punish bad behavior, but you can’t erase it.” While these measures help reduce violence, they do not eliminate it as effectively as the OASIS system does.

Conclusion: Idealization vs. Reality

The OASIS public school presents an idealized vision of education—one where there’s no bullying, no overcrowding, and no disengaged students. With limitless virtual space, engaging hands-on learning, and the ability to mute disruptive classmates, it’s easy to see why Wade prefers it to a real-world school. However, despite all its benefits, the OASIS lacks one crucial element: human interaction.

While real-world schools come with their fair share of problems, they also teach essential life skills. Learning how to deal with difficult people, collaborate with others, and navigate social situations are important parts of growing up—ones that a virtual environment simply can’t replicate. As one of my teachers once said, “You’re not just here to learn math and science. You’re here to learn how to be a person.”

Ultimately, while the OASIS school offers an engaging and innovative alternative to traditional education, it cannot fully replace the real-life experiences that shape us. The ideal solution might not be choosing one over the other, but rather finding ways to bring the best elements of virtual learning into real-world classrooms.