Here is a test [from 1895].

Here is a test [from 1895].

 

Nice .

Our Australian tests are still that hard .

 

The test was a one-day, five-hour final exam for the 8th grade in 1895 in Kansas, USA.

The key is that this was an 8th grade final exam. It shows how much education was important in the 1800s. Most people these days are too dependent on calculators and computers.

* How many 8th graders know what syllabication and marking diacritically is and how to use it?
* If someone asked 8th graders what orthography, diphthong, and cognate letters are, would they be able to immediately provide the answer?
* If someone asked 8th graders to find the interest of $ 512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent using pencil and paper (no calculator), would they able to determine the interest?

 

Of course not. I think everyone realises that, right? Anyone with a sense of history anyway. No need to get all preachy about it.

I stand by my `Nice' comment... who are you hoping to surprise with that?

 

I was taken by surprise when I read the email with the test in it. I was intending exclamation rather than preachy. Poor education is one of my pet peeves; the idea or concept in school systems that children and teenagers should play more and do less homework is horrific.

 

It is interesting that the test seems to at first glance reflect what was considered to be relavant at the time. The skills reflected are indicative of preparation for life in the society of the time. Is it equitable then to indite todays educational system from an isolated fragment of history. It does cause one to ponder what the goals of the education system in the US are. Do we still try to prepare our children to succeed in the world, by teaching them skills that are relevant to cultural and moral needs of our society? I don't know I am far removed and self educated. Thanks it was fun to look at and it made me think.

 

Keep in mind that at that time, 8th grade was the highest level of education most people who even went to school received. Any higher level of education was for the wealthy, and many people did not even get an 8th grade level of education. They got Sunday School, and that was about it.

 

Sorry if I seemed curt Krunch, it comes from teaching at uni (UOW Ted) and always having to defend the legitimacy of your job to irrelevant things like this. Sorry .

 

What the hell did you just say?

 

Yeah, the Gong . Those damn rabbits should never have escaped, infesting the campus like that... at least we have the fearsome ducks to chase them down .

I don't know if I agree with you completely, Ted. Sure language is ever changing, and today at an greater pace than ever before. But is it really good? Sometimes I feel that this transition is lossy, in that we lose expressiveness. Although as with earlier communication we will most likely regain this lost expressiveness. Just today I had an argument with someone (a student) about the differences between internal and intrinsic. (The topic arose when I was regaling them with a tale about the invented word extrinsic.) You wouldn't be able to get that difference across in this new fangled modern language kids use.

Oh well. At least it's quick to write .

 

Being an "elitist" yourself oke: , I should think you'd recognize that form of speak...(1337=leet). Or am I just a giant dumba@$$ who can't tell when u r funnin'?

 

Blue aint dumb...was his attempt at disassociation by distraction and redirection...attempt to cause confusion and avoid the noid.

 

I make no attempt to hide the fact that I despise 1337, and every other transformation of language brought on by the internet ( such as using "u" for "you" and "2" for "to" - don't even get me started on "l8r"). I do not despise the transition and evolution of language. Quite the opposite. These are wonderful things, embedding the reality of the times into the spoken and written word. What really bothers me is that the younger generations seem to be loosing the ability to express themselves clearly in favor of speedier communication - faster but with less content. The concept of metaphor and simile is lost on these people, unless it is in some cliché. Even then they do not seem to grasp the true meaning.