GoTEK SFR1M44-U100...

[Liam Proven]

On Tue, 17 Jul 2018 at 19:43, Peter Corlett via cctalk
<cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
> That's an extraordinary claim that sets off my bullshit detector. Snopes offers
> this commentary: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/1895-exam/
>
> 50-100 years before you were at school would be roughly 1870-1920, which is
> right at the start of both state-provided schools and compulsory education. The
> UK only raised the school leaving age to 11 in 1893. Truancy was rife, because
> parents still expected their children to work instead and contribute to the
> household. The average child was very poorly educated if at all.
>
> Children actually taking examinations at age 11 are already on the academic
> track for those who are both clever and rich enough to continue their education
> further. It may even be the entrance exam for a posh public school. Your
> average working-class oik is never going to get anywhere near that exam paper.

It's a fair point, and one that did occur to me, but I didn't want to
be even _more_ prolix and hedge it about with disclaimers.

Yes, education for all is a relatively modern thing. In the days when
it was for the elite few, well, I suppose it *would* be more tailored
for the elite, and thus would be challenging to non-elite, even
generations later.

But I am nonetheless surprised at by just how much.

> For fun, have a crack at some of the recent exam papers given to 13 year olds
> hoping for a scholarship: https://www.etoncollege.com/KSpapers.aspx

... wow.

-- 
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