Comments on: Dumbing down http://www.johnband.org/blog/2009/11/19/dumbing-down/ The idle musings of John B Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:57:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: John B http://www.johnband.org/blog/2009/11/19/dumbing-down/comment-page-1/#comment-108568 John B Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:13:36 +0000 http://www.johnband.org/blog/2009/11/19/dumbing-down/#comment-108568 My then-girlfriend studied Anglo-Saxon at uni. She found it harder than she found her main degree in English. Therefore, exams were harder in Anglo-Saxon times. My then-girlfriend studied Anglo-Saxon at uni. She found it harder than she found her main degree in English. Therefore, exams were harder in Anglo-Saxon times.

]]> By: Alf http://www.johnband.org/blog/2009/11/19/dumbing-down/comment-page-1/#comment-108555 Alf Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:50:02 +0000 http://www.johnband.org/blog/2009/11/19/dumbing-down/#comment-108555 I left school 4 years ago, but whilst there our teachers would routinely give us exam papers from up to 40 years beforehand. Compared to these our actual exams were a doddle. I left school 4 years ago, but whilst there our teachers would routinely give us exam papers from up to 40 years beforehand. Compared to these our actual exams were a doddle.

]]> By: Quinn http://www.johnband.org/blog/2009/11/19/dumbing-down/comment-page-1/#comment-108465 Quinn Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:18:05 +0000 http://www.johnband.org/blog/2009/11/19/dumbing-down/#comment-108465 <a href="#comment-108336" rel="nofollow">@punkscience </a> Perhaps you could. But would the average student then be any better than the average student now? @punkscience Perhaps you could. But would the average student then be any better than the average student now?

]]> By: punkscience http://www.johnband.org/blog/2009/11/19/dumbing-down/comment-page-1/#comment-108336 punkscience Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:07:53 +0000 http://www.johnband.org/blog/2009/11/19/dumbing-down/#comment-108336 Nice. I had to do my first marking last week. Essays from second year biology students. The words "fucking shocking" do not even come cloase to describing the grammar and reasoning I encountered. I'm pretty sure I could write better than that back when I was in their position. I'll dig out some of my old essays and check. Nice.

I had to do my first marking last week. Essays from second year biology students. The words “fucking shocking” do not even come cloase to describing the grammar and reasoning I encountered. I’m pretty sure I could write better than that back when I was in their position. I’ll dig out some of my old essays and check.

]]> By: John B http://www.johnband.org/blog/2009/11/19/dumbing-down/comment-page-1/#comment-108334 John B Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:48:41 +0000 http://www.johnband.org/blog/2009/11/19/dumbing-down/#comment-108334 [probably should note for the benefit of new readers that 1) yes, I know this doesn't really refute points about dumbing down in GCSEs 2) yes, Ed Balls is a bit of a tit. None of these alter the sheer joy of a Gove-smackdown] [probably should note for the benefit of new readers that 1) yes, I know this doesn't really refute points about dumbing down in GCSEs 2) yes, Ed Balls is a bit of a tit. None of these alter the sheer joy of a Gove-smackdown]

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