How far we have fallen

[fairdinkem]

This story pole axed me. My mother and grandmother were teachers their whole lives. My wife is going on her 16th year of teaching chemistry & forensic science. I took the challenge and got a passing grade, barely, but it took 2-days. I thought the penguins in grade school were tough but this is crazy.

An 1895 8th Grade Final Exam: I Couldn't Pass It. Could You?

An old pal from Brandeis—Sheldon Gray—has a knack for the ironic. He's very well educated, and so am I. But I don't know whether we could pass this test, from 1895 in what looks like a little red schoolhouse in Salina, Kansas, at all. Let alone with flying colors. Shelly sent on this object...

newrepublic.com

 

[2012Bearcat]

Test is racist, does not celebrate diversity, mentions nothing about climate change, doesn't take the students feelings into account and it's not a multiple choice test. How can our little darlings of today be expected to be put through the torture of of test like that.

 

[fatman76]

This story pole axed me. My mother and grandmother were teachers their whole lives. My wife is going on her 16th year of teaching chemistry & forensic science. I took the challenge and got a passing grade, barely, but it took 2-days. I thought the penguins in grade school were tough but this is crazy.

An 1895 8th Grade Final Exam: I Couldn't Pass It. Could You?

An old pal from Brandeis—Sheldon Gray—has a knack for the ironic. He's very well educated, and so am I. But I don't know whether we could pass this test, from 1895 in what looks like a little red schoolhouse in Salina, Kansas, at all. Let alone with flying colors. Shelly sent on this object...

newrepublic.com

1) A 5 hour test for 8th graders is diabolical.
2) Alot of the terms and units are not really current - hard for me to calculate how many bushels of wheat fit in a wagon if I don't know how big a bushel is, but I don't live in a farming community.
3) I could only pass 2-3 of these subjects. Grammar, US History (maybe) and Orthography.

and how do you grade yourself - for example, how do you know the correct answer to "tell what you can about the history of Kansas?" or "Describe the Mountains of N.A."

You could write 3 paragraphs or a complete book on those subjects.

 

[AC2020]

I'm not even going to try.

I identify as a student that made an A on that test.

 

[2012Bearcat]

1) A 5 hour test for 8th graders is diabolical.
2) Alot of the terms and units are not really current - hard for me to calculate how many bushels of wheat fit in a wagon if I don't know how big a bushel is, but I don't live in a farming community.
3) I could only pass 2-3 of these subjects. Grammar, US History (maybe) and Orthography.

and how do you grade yourself - for example, how do you know the correct answer to "tell what you can about the history of Kansas?" or "Describe the Mountains of N.A."

You could write 3 paragraphs or a complete book on those subjects.

All about knowing what the teacher is looking for. Read over a few notes from the classes and I have no doubt most of us would ace the test.