Quotation of the Week 32
“In examinations those who do not wish to know ask questions of those who cannot tell.”
Walter Raleigh, Laughter from a Cloud, ‘Some thoughts on examinations’, 1923.
Love of History | Quotation of the Week 32
Dr. Constantina Katsari is a comparative historian that specialises on ancient and modern history. She looks at current events with a critical eye and brings forward direct comparisons with similar historical events.
As a former history lecturer and lately an exams invigilator, this quote makes me feel a little sad. Yet it’s true in some cases I suppose. A teaching colleague of mine once remarked that when, in the ‘real’ world, would one be expected to write or lecture, or indeed perform any workplace task, without recourse to relevant data. Exams are not a natural reflection of real life, yet they do provide a convenient shortcut to testing large groups of students. Tough on those with shaky recall but a depth of understanding! Does having a photographic memory indicate engagement with one’s subject? I think not.