Could you pass this test? A general examination to test eighth grade students in Kentucky's Bullitt County school system in 1912 has stumped some adults and ignited a debate over the intelligence of children today
Posted on 07/31/2013 5:25:21 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Test for eighth graders in Kentucky dated 1912 ignites debate over kids' intelligence today
A general examination to test eighth grade students in Kentucky's Bullitt County school system in 1912 has stumped some adults and ignited a debate over the intelligence of children today.
The arithmetic, geography, civil government, physiology, grammar and history questions range from 'What is a personal pronoun?' to 'Who first discovered Lawrence River?' and 'Define Cerebrum'.
Posted on Lew Rockwell, the type-written test has promoted some adults to try and answer the questions, and caused some parents to critique the U.S. school system.
'I performed poorly,' wrote Jezebel's Laura Beck. 'But to be fair/excuse my stupidity, some of the answers, especially history, are very different now that we know more of the truth.'
Some questions are specific to Bullitt County, such as 'name five county officers in your region,' while other aspects of the test are antique.
But many parents argue that the children in 1912 who took such tests were no smarter than the children of today.
One commenter noted: 'Most of these questions are memorization-based. They prompt memorized answers with specific words that would have been used in classes back then.
'There are very little critical thinking questions or any other questions that require more than rote memorization to complete.'
Another woman, under the name of Leah Jaclyn, agreed, writing: 'Often people who think our kids are dumb fail to realise that rote memorisation is a skill that is not often required anymore.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Could you pass this test? A general examination to test eighth grade students in Kentucky's Bullitt County school system in 1912 has stumped some adults and ignited a debate over the intelligence of children today
More parts of the test at the source. Also, more excuses from today’s educators.
I wouldn’t have passed the spelling test, especially with words like “eneeavor.”
Today’s educators denounce “rote memorization” as a skill.
It’s a required basis for the rest of learning. It’s part of the “grammar” stage of learning, on which being able to think logically and discuss logically.
Of course, those last two stages would be detrimental to the communist movement, so knock the foundations out before anyone gets started on that “logic” nonsense.
/johnny
Dummies for Democrats
I had to look up “kalsomining”.
Wrong question.
“Are schools much, much worse than a century ago?”
Were children smarter? Unlikely. However, those who reached 8th grade had been taught what they needed to pass this test over the prior 8 years. If they didn’t pass - and it would be interesting to see the pass rate - they were done with formal schooling and went to work.
Were children smarter a century ago?
No. They just weren’t as dumb—which has to do with the information they are given to work with.
Bump.
Dear Lord, please guide our course.
Tatt
A century ago, children were taught the moral and critical thinking skills they needed for life. Now, they are taught there is no moral authority and to think what the group is told to think, that is facts by consensus.
Just watch Jay Leno’s Jaywalking routine for proof of the moron eruption in an “enlightened” stronghold like LA.
Rote memorization? I challenge the person making that statement to answer the math questions with partial fractions.
Sure, it’s not the way these things are taught now, but, it can be done and the question was designed that way.
Rote memorization...of your own name, birthday, address and phone number. No, we can’t have that.
Disgusting.
I used to have my multiplication tables (through 12) memorized to the point that a teacher could stop the class, propose a multiplication problem, and I wouldn't need to write or think. It was automatic.
Same went for spelling tests and vocabulary.
Rote memorization was the cornerstone of my upbringing and my education, and it's still the cornerstone of education in countries like India and China where they are kicking our collective scholastic asses across the globe.
This country is lost.
There is a base of facts. Understanding, “what is a fact, what is not” is the core of what should be taught if one is teaching critical thinking.
That’s NOT what this teacher is talking about. To her - ‘critical thinking’ amounts to moral relativism, being taught to challenge the morals of their parents, church, etc. (but never to challenge the teacher or society that their ideas might be wrong). It is exactly as posted before that principles are stripped away to be replaced with questioning.
Too many people understanding “what is fact and what is not” would be highly detrimental to the leftist cause.
My kids had a 4th grade teacher in CA (in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s) who used to teach the times tables by memory. BUT the parents of the kids in her classes were sworn to secrecy about the practice because she swore that she would be fired if the administration found out what she was doing.
She was about 5 years from retirement.
Hence why I teach it to my students in my second class of the term. :)
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