I read a disturbing fact the other day. A non- profit group called the America’s Promise Alliance says in 17 of the 50 largest school systems, fewer than half the students actually get a high school diploma. What happened to education in this country?

A friend sent me a final exam for 8^th graders in 1895 in Salina, Kansas. The exam took 5 hours to complete. Here are some of the questions.  

Grammar

1.       Give nine rules for the use of capital letters

2.       Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications

3.       Define case: illustrate each case

Arithmetic

1.       Name and define the fundamental rules of arithmetic

2.       Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7%.

3.       What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance of which is 640 rods.

U.S. History

1.       Show the territorial growth of the United States

2.       Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion

3.       Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620,1800,1849,1865

Geography

1.       Of what use are rivers? Of what use are oceans?

2.       Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each

3.       Describe the mountains of North America.

Could you have passed? I don’t think I could.