Perhaps Snopes is an urban legend ;-) I have no idea of the provenance of this particular test, but I can tell you that if it isn’t authentic it more or less accurately represents what was expected by schools in the 19th Century. In fact, the math is a little too easy, believe it or not.
If Snopes cared about accuracy in any serious sense, they would have looked at the standard textbooks of that period - the 1836 McGuffey’s Readers, Ray’s Arithmetics, and Harvey’s Grammars - to see what the standards actually were. If they had, they would have seen that children living in what we would consider dire poverty today were learning at an amazing level with very little being spent on “education”. BTW, I have used some of these textbooks with my children.
The primary urban legend regarding education today is that government schools provide one....You won’t find that on the left leaning Snopes site.
“The primary urban legend regarding education today is that government schools provide one....You won’t find that on the left leaning Snopes site.”
Precisely. Rush was just saying that our new education secretary straight out of Chicago had their schools at a level that only 17% of eighth graders could read at an eighth grade level.....talk about dumbed down. It simply can’t be by accident.
Then I read a letter like the following, written by a half breed Indian on a Civil War battle field. There simply is no excuse for the ignorance we tolerate today. How many Chicago 8th graders could even tell you where Siberia is?
1864, Camp Watie, Indian Territory
James Madison Bell “Colo-Gotte-Yon” To his wife Caroline “Carrie” Lynch Bell.
“Dearest Carrie,
Since I wrote, Jessee Adair has taken the Small Pox, was breaking out thick this morning. We had to empress houses for hospital purposes. We may have some trouble on account of it, but it’s more than I can stand to see poor soldiers lying out such times as that-— snow on the ground and the river frozen six inches thick. I think I will be supported in the matter and if not, it is time we were knowing that we are regarded no more than dogs.
I am satisfied that you have already heard rumors that we are ruined beyond remedy. How does it happen that you always hear everything from the common in it’s worst aspect? It is bad enough to tell the truth or well enough to do so, but to go beyond that is criminal. It can do no good, but a great deal of harm, to exaggerate things as many of our people do.
But it is true out of five thousand, one thousand are without arms and many have not clothing to change, without shoes. And what any one in their right senses would say was in a deplorable condition looking more like Siberian exiles than soldiers. Still I am constrained to say that they are never called on to make a stand against the enemy but they do so cheerfully and with a determination that no one would expect.
We are neglected. The Confederacy certainly does not know our condition. Good soldiers, but without the means of resistance, but we are neither discouraged or whipped and God forbid we ever shall be. Times are hard. No one starved yet though. I have been in an almost nude condition. I have still got an old gray shirt and pants on. They are thread bear. There is some prospect of a fight soon, if the Feds and Pins stand their ground. Everything is quiet now, but I don’t think it can last long.
I would like the best in the world if we had our country. How I would like to settle down again and hear the cows lowing, the hogs squealing, and see the nice garden and the yard with roses in it, the waving wheat and stately corn growing. And be conscious that there was no one in want and be blessed with the society of those I love most on earth, You and our children.
Sometimes I fear we will not be permitted to be situated so again, but you know that I have faith in a power that can always keep us out of trouble and can restore anything that we ask if he chooses. I would not be without this ‘infatuation’, as many please to call it and laugh at me for it, for nothing in the world. I could not think of going into a battle without it. So let us hope that what ever may come, we may be restored at last to each other.
I have just seen a man from camp — says the Feds and Pins are in Fort Gibson. Our forces are just across the river. The prospect is good for a fight. How I wish I had my horse. I feel lost without him. As expected, we met up with Jarrett and Dr. Dupree here. Col. Adair is anxious to go home and would be off by this time were he not under arrest. General Steele arrested him for disrespect. His trial will be removed to Little Rock. Col. Adair has or will prefer charges against General Steele. It would take me a month to write you everything.
Kiss all the children, and make them walk with you every evening and tell them they must learn very fast. I want to see you! You don’t know how bad.
I am, as ever yours, Jim”
http://jesusweptanamericanstory.blogspot.com/
Excellent points.