A-Level Students are stupid!

[Beorn]

Before I post the article and show the abysmal education standards of British students exiting the educational system, let's see if you can answer these five simple questions?

My answers:

1) Wellington
2) Queen Elizabeth I
3) Engineer
4) Benjamin Disraeli. (I admit I did have to think for a moment)
5) South Africa.

(I left school with only three 'C's. All in English.)

Trendy teaching is 'producing a generation of history numbskulls'

A generation of teenagers know almost nothing about the history of Britain because schools are sidelining knowledge in favour of trendy topics and generic skills, a university academic has warned.
Professor Derek Matthews, an economics lecturer at Cardiff University, was so concerned at his students' lack of historical knowledge that he decided to investigate by setting them five simple questions.
Over three years, 284 UK-educated first-years took the test, which demanded basic knowledge the professor believes 'every 18-year-old should know'.

Cont...

[Tabiti]

This is a tendency everywhere in the developed world. I finished high school with straight "A" in all subjects, without any serious learning. I've noticed most of my knowledge today is not gained in school, but due my personal interests in specific spheres, especially when it comes to history. Educational system nowadays creates people knowing facts by heart, "recorders" but not thinkers and self improvers. Most kids just learn all the material by heart for the next test and forget anything immediately after its end.

[Freomæg]

Today's education system is nothing more than indoctrination. A-levels and degrees are, for the most part, nothing more than ways to prolong that indoctrination and propagate the debt culture. I wish I'd left school at 16 and learnt a trade.

[Æmeric]

I could answer all of them without thinking. As for number 4, besides Disraeli there was William Gladstone, Lord Melbourne, Lord Palmerston, the Earl of Rosebery & the Duke of Wellington aka Arthur Wellesley. I'm sure there were others but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

[SwordoftheVistula]

I've never heard of this Isambard guy, but woulda gotten the other ones. Gladstone, Disraeli, and Wellington are the 19th century PMs I could name.

[Osweo]

I could answer all of them without thinking. As for number 4, besides Disraeli there was William Gladstone, Lord Melbourne, Lord Palmerston, the Earl of Rosebery & the Duke of Wellington aka Arthur Wellesley. I'm sure there were others but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

Lord Liverpool, the Marquis of Salisbury, Robert Peel. Is there anyone left?

If you aske dme about the USA though... Lincoln. Er... Rooseveldt? : So well done, Aemeric!

... Van B..? Buren? Who was he, and why did he pop into my head? Who bought Alaska? Ah, there's a Monroe Doctrine, so there must have been a Monroe! Some of the earlier ones come to mind, but I am not sure if that's not before 1800. Hamilton. Adams. Jefferson? I bet some of you lads can recite them all in order, and name their wives and dogs.

I've never heard of this Isambard guy,

He built some good big engineering things - look him up, it's impressive! I've driven over a great many of his bridges that are still in heavy use today. His flagships were in railway and shipbuilding projects. He had a big hat too.

Educational system nowadays creates people knowing facts by heart, "recorders"

I think in the UK we've passed through that phase now, into a new one where not even THAT is required. It's far more weighted towards political indoctrination now. The things that they do have to learn for exams and so on are barely worth knowing.

Even when I was at school, there was a choice of two history syllabuses at age 14; one about 19th Century British and European history, and one about cowboys and Indians plus the history of medicine...

The American Wild West must have plenty of interesting things in it, but our teacher mentioned that weeks were spent on the Battle of the Little Bighorn, where a tiny fraction of men died compared with the now barely remembered battle of Magenta at roughtly the same time! I was appalled even then that it was considered appropriate to have English children learn about this at the expense of learning about their own country. And 'history of medicine'?!? Wtf?

[British and Proud]

Today's education system is nothing more than indoctrination. A-levels and degrees are, for the most part, nothing more than ways to prolong that indoctrination and propagate the debt culture. I wish I'd left school at 16 and learnt a trade.

Indeed. I am stunned by the number of people who, after a minimum of eleven years' education, are unable to use an apostrophe. The fact that many young adults know nothing about the Napoleonic Wars, or are able to name a 18th Century Prime Minister speaks volumes.

'Education' is now little more than indoctrination, a way to keep unemployment low and raise peoples' expectations so that they will not view physical work as compatible with their educational attainment.

Conversely, the benefits system has created an underclass who rely on benefits, thus the government can justify mass-immigration to fill the 'skills shortage'.

[Æmeric]

I've never heard of this Isambard guy, but woulda gotten the other ones. Gladstone, Disraeli, and Wellington are the 19th century PMs I could name.

Brunel was a famous engineer, designed & built the Great Eastern, the largest ship of it's kind in the 19th century.

Lord Liverpool, the Marquis of Salisbury, Robert Peel. Is there anyone left?

Britain was in better shap when it's prime ministers came from the House of Lords.

If you aske dme about the USA though... Lincoln. Er... Rooseveldt? : So well done, Aemeric!

Thank you! But Teddy Roosevelt was a 20th century president, 1901-1909.

... Van B..? Buren? Who was he, and why did he pop into my head?

Martin Van Buren, 1837-1841. Was Jackson's vice-president, Can't say much else about him.

Who bought Alaska?

That would be Andrew Johnson, 1865-1869. It was his Secretary of State, William Seward. Johnson was the only one impeached until Clinton. Was acquited by one vote.

Ah, there's a Monroe Doctrine, so there must have been a Monroe!

James Monroe, 1817-1825. One of the Virginians. 4 of the first 5 were Virginians.

Some of the earlier ones come to mind, but I am not sure if that's not before 1800. Hamilton. Adams. Jefferson?

Alexander Hamilton was never president. And neither was Benjamin Franklin, though some people assume they were. Washington was president from 1789-1797 & then John Adams, 1797-1801. Then Jefferson

I bet some of you lads can recite them all in order, and name their wives and dogs.

I know all in order, not so certain about all the wives. Certainly the more famous or infamous ones like Rachel Jackson (bigamist), Mary Todd Lincoln (psycho), Eleanor Roosevelt (crypto-lesbian socialist), Jacqueline Kennedy (social climbing gold-digger), Hillary Rodham Clinton (power hungry crypto-lesbian) & Michelle Obama (black power bitch).

[Osweo]

Britain was in better shap when it's prime ministers came from the House of Lords.

Two of the best that unfortunately we never had were not Lords. William Huskisson and 'Birmingham' Joe Chamberlain (rather more controversial, given his more recent career and involvement in some fundamental shaping of the modern situation, though). Both killed by freak accidents involving new technology. If they were better known, the conspiracy nuts would have all sorts of curious things to say about that. Enoch Powell never came close to it, but would have brought some real honesty and intelligence to the job.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Huskisson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Chamberlain

(HAng on, Chamberlain wasn't run over by a bus like I thought. Who am I thinking of there!?!)

Martin Van Buren, 1837-1841. Was Jackson's vice-president, Can't say much else about him.

I wonder why I've heard of him, then? Or am I thinking of some other Van x, but settled for a Dutch sounding name with another New World connection. They were rich burghers in New York, no?

That would be Andrew Johnson, 1865-1869. It was his Secretary of State, William Seward.

Ah yes. Both names are dimly familiar. Good Germanic one, too; Sigward!

not so certain about all the wives. Certainly the more famous or infamous ones like Rachel Jackson (bigamist), Mary Todd Lincoln (psycho), Eleanor Roosevelt (crypto-lesbian socialist), Jacqueline Kennedy (social climbing gold-digger), Hillary Rodham Clinton (power hungry crypto-lesbian) & Michelle Obama (black power bitch).

I only remember Nancy and Barbara!

[Treffie]

Britain was in better shap when it's prime ministers came from the House of Lords.

Probably, but I'd say that Britain was in a lot better shape before they abolished the Grammar School system.