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.

Economic historian and numismatic consultant

1 Comment

  1. 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.

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