Can you pass an 8th grade test from 1895?

Question

Go to this website

http://mwhodges.home.att.net/1895-test.htm

American Public Schools have been slacking.

Who's to blame for this?
I blame the teaching of Evolution in schools for Americans becoming dumber.

What's your opinion?

Answer 1

I like how people are saying that this is all they learned by 8th grade, yet most people don't know what half of the questions are even asking. The mathematics might not be anything to wow anybody, since the only confusing part is the measurements, but still I think we have lost a lot of ground. Standardized tests, such as the ACT/SAT one of the two, was dumbed down so scores would go up. The Constitution, which most people can hardly read, was written so the average farmer could understand it.

What is the reasons for the gradual decrease in knowledge? I think respect for authority, especially with parents, apathy, drugs, drinking, etc. are all part of the issue (the students), but obviously the system has flaws too. I think one of the biggest problems involves child molestors in the school systems. They can quit without having local authority get involved, then just apply in another state with the previous job experience and start all over again. Yuck!!

Is evolution to blame? I think there might be some validity in that. Young students are taught that evolution is an undeniable fact, which precedes any intelligent science. Where's the problem with that? Nobody even knows whether or not evolution is a theory (theory of evolution/TOE), a fact, a law, etc. All that arguing over which realm it even falls into? (Plus if anyone says evolution is indeed a law/fact they mean speciation/variation/micro-evolution). That is undeniable, it has been seen, produced in the lab, etc. but beyond that it is up to skepticism and speculation. There might be evidence (which can be interpreted as proof for evolution), but that's the issue. You can look at the fossil record and take whatever you want out of it, base it on science and say that proves something, yet it doesn't. Unless we can empirically reproduce and test how something would shift beyond their species/breed it can not be considered science, but must be believed in with good faith, making it very religious. People will argue this to they are blue in the face, but without anything besides assumptions (even potentially logical ones) it is a religious view. After all it only encompasses the origins of life, which extends into the origins of the universe, ie how we got here and why. Deal with it.

Answer 2

1) Look up the term cultural relativism.

"I blame the teaching of Evolution in schools for Americans becoming dumber. "

Is this what happened to you, because you ask some of the dumbest questions I've ever seen.

Every doctor that graduates medical school has a thorough understanding of evolution. Are doctors dumb?

My opinion is you are a fool.

Answer 3

The test is very interesting. However, I don't think the teaching of evolution has anything to do with America being dumber, as you say. Good luck. 2D

Answer 4

That's a good point. Public schools used to have much more rigorous standards. Although it has nothing to do with evolution.

Answer 5

I think
a. you're not bright.
b. schooling usually ended in the 8th grade at that time. That's all they learned til that point?
c. People were being trained for farming and factory work-therefore those things were vitally important.
d. Would you be able to pass the current high school requirement tests to graduate? Methinks not...

Answer 6

Yeah, blame evolution for making kids dumber.

That's like blaming proper nutrition for making kids fatter.

Answer 7

"I blame the teaching of Evolution in schools for Americans becoming dumber. "

The irony of this statement literally took my breath away...

Answer 8

impossible, never had i dreamt about such a long past, except in history class.

Answer 9

Wow, I bet most college folks would flunk it.

Answer 10

just goes to show you how far we have fallen....