Forwarded by Skip
1912 Eighth Grade Examination for Bullitt County Schools
This copy of the Eighth Grade Exam for Bullitt County Schools in 1912 was donated to the museum. We thought you might like to see what the test looked like more than a hundred years ago. Obviously it tested some things that were more relevant at that time than now, and it should not be used to compare student knowledge then and now.
Note that there are several typesetting mistakes on the test including a mistake in the spelling list. The word "eneeavor" should be "endeavor." This version of the exam was probably a master version given out to the schools (note that the spelling words wouldn’t be written on a test.) The museum has been told that the exam was handed out in a scroll form (that is why the paper is long.) The typos would have been corrected simply by contacting the teachers and telling them to mark their copies accordingly, much like would be done today. And there might not be quite as many typos as you think; "Serbia" for example was indeed spelled "Servia" back then.
/snip
Answers below the fold....
HERE IS THE LINK TO THE ANSWER SHEET <<
I couldn't pass that test right now, at 64 years of age, with an Associates Degree in Automotive Technology.
ReplyDeleteI have two masters and I could only answer about half of the questions.
Deleteand in Chicago, 21% of graduating 8th graders CAN read adequately. It doesn't say 79% of graduating 8th graders CANNOT read. Teachers demand a 1 Billion dollar contract, not a dime for education.
Deletei could not answer a single question. not even one
ReplyDeleteYou know, all that arithmetic was done with a pencil and paper, too. No calculaters or slide rules. I didn't get any either.
ReplyDeleteGeez o peetz, I failed right off the bat, I guess cause I went to Meek High School….
ReplyDeletePut into perspective that many families back mid 1900s had stories of the great grandfather or grandfather quitting school in 8th grade to go to work. They were damn smart back then.
ReplyDeleteThe cord wood question is a good one. Im still trying to figure out how to add 2’3””x24’ to the existing 3 cords…🤬
ReplyDeleteDang Irish, I have an advanced degree in Biochemistry, and I got the math questions, physiology and most of the geography. Totally clueless on grammar, history and a lot of the civil government (I do have a copy of the constitution which needs review). F me I gotta go back to school! Known Associate here.
ReplyDeleteWell educated and highly literate 63-yr-old Geologist here - a very impressive list of intelligent questions. Sat down to answer the questions and soon found I needed more paper and time. I probably got a solid B- score. No way the current gen would understand the questions let alone answer the questions, especially an 8th grader from Bullitt County, Kentucky.
ReplyDeletethe result of having to lower standards for blacks.
DeleteCould almost smell the mimeograph ink.
ReplyDelete-lg
Question 7 spelled assassination incorrectly, so I blackmailed the teacher for a passing grade. (A+)
ReplyDeleteDescribe the heart..
ReplyDeleteToo many times broken, eventually callussed enough to protect itself.
So,fukkoff..
this was school before they had to lower the standards so blacks could pass. back when education meant something you passed by merit. this is what "equality" does to a society.
ReplyDeleteHard evidence that school always sucked!
ReplyDeleteNow please find and publish the CURRENT 8th grade examination (much easier than in 1912) for the Baltimore Maryland Public School System and note the following below from a 2023 newspaper article:
ReplyDeletehttps://mynbc15.com/news/project-education/citc-40-of-high-schools-in-baltimore-had-zero-students-test-proficient-in-math-schools-public-education-system-maryland-exams-reading-writing
The state of America’s public education system is in the spotlight again after concerning new state test scores reportedly show 13 of Baltimore City’s 32 public schools had not one student test proficient in math among kids who took the 2023 state exam this past spring.
At Baltimore’s top five schools, only 11.4% of students who took the exam scored proficient in math according to the report obtained by Project Baltimore.
"It’s not acceptable where we are but that doesn’t mean that the entire system is broken," said Bill Ferguson, a Democrat and president of Maryland's state senate."
Bill Ferguson's part of the system isn't broken, he still gets paid. Over paid for sure.
DeleteJust turned 76 and used to know most of those, some have just gone bye-byes. Physiology would be fit for a nurse today. Most I was never exposed to - and I had a pretty comprehensive education.
ReplyDeleteIf you're old enough to remember the mid sixties,you remember when They announced that our schools were broken. THEY demanded and got the power and money to make changes. Time passed, test results Showed that the changes caused lower scores. Instead of Undoing what they did, they made more changes. That is when I knew it was intentional..
ReplyDeleteIf THEY didn't like what the schools are putting out, They would change it.
If you're old enough to remember the mid sixties,you remember when They announced that our schools were broken. THEY demanded and got the power and money to make changes. Time passed, test results Showed that the changes caused lower scores. Instead of Undoing what they did, they made more changes. That is when I knew it was intentional..
ReplyDeleteIf THEY didn't like what the schools are putting out, They would change it.
Dumbing down Americans was intentional. Read some of John Taylor Gatto's books about this topic. Sad, maddening and eye-opening. Homeschooling is the only answer.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely.. And Charlotte Iserbyt's The deliberate dumbing down of America. Interviews and, I think the whole book among other things are available here.
DeleteWell, crap,I can't paste the address,,
She was the #2 position in the education department and saw what was happening. And didn't do anything to stop it??
In the F.W.I.W. Department, her dad was a mason. I want to say 33rd degree.
Anyone interested, Look up Charlotte Iserbyt, Deliberate dumbing down of America.
My father in law showed me a book from that era. I would have ended up a ditch digger because the world needed more of them then
ReplyDeleteMy prediction is that communities will develop home schooling environments to share the burden amongst themselves
ReplyDeleteNo television back then, a lot could get done.
ReplyDeleteMath question 7. Trick question, even without additional enrollment, the number of boys or girls could change at any time due to "feelings" of self identity.
ReplyDelete