Several students gathered around three textbooks.
One for each column.
They took turns reading
while others listened closely.
The teacher repeated sections aloud
so the lesson could move together.
Learning was still taking place.
But not evenly.
Pace slowed.
Attention shifted.
Understanding depended on what could be held and recalled.
Access was shared.
And when access is shared,
learning becomes collective—
but also limited in how far it can extend.