School education

Possibly a complete set of answers to an examination paper may be of use as showing the all-round standing of a scholar educated on the principles I have advanced. This paper is not exceptional,⁠[30] and some weakness will be noticed in what I have called the disciplinary subjects.

N.B.—For illustrations for History, Geography, etc., see the catalogue of the Perry Pictures (Art for Schools Association, 46 Great Ormond Street, London, 3d.).

Children who are beginners or who have just been moved up from Class II., or who find the work difficult, may omit three subjects.

Questions on Preceding Programme.

P. Q., aged 12. Class III.

List of Subjects taken.

• Bible Lessons.
• French.
• German.
• Latin.
• English History.
• French do.
• Roman do.
• Geography.
• English Grammar.
• Writing.
• Dictation.
• Natural History.
• Botany.
• Physiology.
• Arithmetic.
• Euclid.
• Composition.

All the answers, in the subjects taken, have been attempted; a few of these are omitted here for reasons of space. The maps and diagrams are rather well done, but cannot be reproduced. The writer’s spelling, pointing, etc. have been carefully preserved.

Bible Lessons.

I. 2. (a) “I am Joseph, your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.” These words were spoken by Joseph when he was revealing himself to his brethren. His brothers had come down into Egypt a second time to buy food, and had persuaded their father Jacob to let them take Benjamin down with them, because Joseph had told them that they must. So Jacob reluctantly let Benjamin go. And now they had bought their corn, and actually been asked to dine with Joseph, and were on their homeward way, when some officers of Joseph’s household come galloping after them, and angrily ask whether the way to return hospitality is to steal Joseph’s cup, his favourite silver cup. Then when the cup is found in Benjamin’s sack, Judah, who has promised to be surety for him, begs that he may be a slave to Joseph instead of Benjamin, as he promised Jacob his father to bring him back safe. Then they are all taken in to see Joseph, and he cannot stand it any longer, and bursts into tears, and says “I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?” ‘And his brethren could not answer him for they were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren “Come near to me, I pray you.” And they came near. And he said “I am Joseph your brother whom ye sold into Egypt.”’ So then of course they believed him, and everything was made all right.

(c) Jacob lay on his deathbed with his sons around him, listening to his words which seemed to come straight from God. But instead of Reuben, as the first-born getting the best or most wonderful blessing, he seems to have been put below Judah, who is told that he shall be “a fruitful bough,” and shall remain “Until Shiloh come.” This seems to be a wonderful inspiration in Jacob that someone should come from the descendants of his son Judah who “should save His people from their sins.” Of course, now, we see in it a prophecy of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, though then it was most likely an undefined thought.

II. 1. (b) “There was a man that had two sons; and he went to one, and said “Son, go to work to-day in my vineyard.” And he answered and said “I will not”; but afterwards he repented, and went. And the father went to the other son and said “Son, go to work to-day in my vineyard.” And he answered and said “I go, sir,” but went not at all to the work. Whether of the twain did the will of their father?” They (the priests) say unto him “the first.” “From this we see that the parable was aimed at the chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees, who had been trying to trap him in his talk. The man was God, the two sons, those that did his will, and those that did not, and the vineyard was the world. The scribes and Pharisees were those who made a lot of show, and were very particular about all the little outside observances of religion, but did not really work, like the son in the parable who said “I go, sir” and did not go at all. Thus they were made to condemn themselves by saying that the first did the will of God, and not the second.

2. (a) Pilate had been cross-examining Jesus, and had “found no fault in him.” When he asked the people what he should do with him, they cried out, saying “Crucify him, crucify him.” But Pilate answered and said “Shall I crucify your King?” But they cried out yet the more, saying “Crucify him, crucify him.” Then Pilate took a bason, and washed his hands before the multitude saying “I have nothing to do with this righteous man; see ye to it.” And the people cried out, saying “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” Then Jesus was led away.

French.

1. Un fusil, une bandoulière, des cartouches, une gibecière, un permis de chasse, et une meute de chiens.

2 (recited).

4. Cette aiguille est très aigue. Ces animaux sont de trois familles. Ce mouvement est très facile; un pas avec ce pied, et il faut qu’un bras faire ce tour. Cet homme était bien fait de sa personne. Ils étaient très sages; ils mettaient leurs livres dans l’armoire, pas sur la table. Ses filles étaient très méchantes. Il fit un tel pas, que je pensais qu’il tomberait. Chaque personne fit une grande revérence, quand le roi venait.

German.

1. (Heroengeschichten has not been taken, so “Kaiser Karl am Luther’s Grab” is recited, from page 24 of A Book of German Ballads, Cambridge University Press.)

2. Welche dieses Blümen ist den schönsten? Ich war einmal in Berlin und dreimal in Paris.

3. Ich habe sechs güte Bücher. Er ist fünfzehnmal gestraft worden. Wir sind siebzehn edele Knaben. Neun Knaben sind in dieses Spiel. Vier Bücher wären gross-Achtzehn-hundert schlecht Knaben.

Arithmetic.

1.

2.

4959 balls @ 11¾d. each = 4959 balls @ 1s. ea. - 4959 farthings.

4959 farthings = 1239¾d. = 103s. 3¾d. = £5 3 3¾.

4959 shillings = £247 19 0.

3.

4.

Composition.

(a) Sir Walter Scott was a well-known writer in the early part of the 19th century. His novels are read by almost everyone; and though, perhaps, his poetry is not quite so well-known, still, at most places one finds people who have read or heard of the “Lady of the Lake” or “Marmion.” The first of his novels was “Waverly” (sic), and so they are often called the “Waverley Novels.” The historical tales are very good, giving the reader a splendid idea of life in the 12th or 13th centuries; “Ivanhoe,” “Betrothed,” “The Talisman” and “Kenilworth” (this latter is about the 16th century, in Queen Elizabeth’s reign). “The Heart of Midlothian” is also very interesting, and “Peveril of the Peak” tells about the fighting between the Cavaliers and Roundheads in the time of Charles I., and Oliver Cromwell. The “Lady of the Lake” is about the longest poem Sir Walter Scott ever wrote; it is very beautiful, and many pieces in it are most interesting. “Marmion” tell (sic) of a battle, and how a Lord Marmion was killed there.

Latin.

1. Alexander once upon a time asked a pirate whom he had taken by what right he infested the seas? At that, “The same,” said he “by which you do (infest) the world. But because I do it with a small ship, I am called a robber; you, because you do it with a great fleet and army are called a general.” Alexander dismissed the man unhurt. Did he do rightly?

Alexander olim comprehensum pirātam interrogavit, quo jure maria infestaret? Ille “Eodem,” inquit “quo tu orbem terrarum. Sed quia ego parvo navigio facio, latro vocor; tu, quia magna classe et exercitu, imperator.” Alexander inviolatum hominem dimisit. Num juste fecit?

Alexander, noun proper, masc., sing., nominative case.

Olim, adv. modifies verb “interrogavit.”

Comprehensum, participle used as adj., modifying “piratam.”

Piratam, n. common, masc., sing., objective case, governed by “interrogavit.”

Interrogavit, verb, transitive, 3rd pers. sing. Past Tense.

Quo, relative pron., ablative case, antecedent “jure.”

Jure, n. common, neuter, sing., ablative case.

Maria, n. common, neuter singular, objective case to “infestaret.”

Infestaret, intransitive verb, 3rd person singular Present Subjunctive Tense.

2. (a) Somnimus totus noctes. (b) Docebo te musicam. (c) Romani Numam regem elexerunt. (d) Galli cis Rhenum habitaverunt. (e) Magister videt multos pueros ludere.

(a) illustrates that the object is in the accusative in Latin.

(b) illustrates that the double object is in the accusative.

(c) illustrates that the double object is in the accusative.

(d) illustrates that all prepositions as “cis” take the acc. case.

(e) illustrates that with a sentence like “The master sees that many boys play” you prefix with “Master sees” leave out “that” turn “many boys” into accusative, and turn “play” into the infinitive.

English History.

1. The Anti-Corn-law League was formed early in the reign of Queen Victoria. Its name shews that its object was to get the Corn Laws repealed or rather to have the taxes on corn taken off, as they were causing distress in the country. Eloquent men went about the country, speaking to the people, and telling them how much better it would be not to have them, until they were convinced that it was so, and made rather a fuss over it, so that one Prime Minister, Lord Russell, resigned, and Lord Melbourne came in, and took off some of the taxes. People now seem to be thinking that it would be a good thing to put on some of these corn taxes again, and the country is again rather agitated about it, and Mr Chamberlain, Mr Balfour, and many other gentlemen go about making speeches either for, or against it, according to their different views, just as people did then, when Sir Robert Peel did take them off.

2. England joined in the Crimean war, because they were afraid that if Russia got hold of Turkey, they might prevent the English going to and from India, and that thus the command we had over India might be loosened and India might once more become an independent country. France entered because Napoleon III. wished to show that he had some power, and was not afraid of war. Sardinia entered in because the King of Sardinia’s minister, Count Cavour, wished to shew that Sardinia had some power, and he also thought that by making powerful friends such as England and France, his master, King Victor Emmanuel might one day become king of Italy. Russia wanted to put down Turkey, and Turkey of course went against Russia. It was a very sad war, mostly because of the bad management. The charges of the Light and Heavy Brigades, the battles of Inkerman, Balaclava, and last of all, the long siege of Sebastopol, which might have been prevented, had we charged the day before at the Russians, so as to prevent them get (sic) hold of, and fortifying the chief tower, all tells (sic) of suffering from the intense cold, and death of the soldiers by scores.

French History.

1. The Prussians advanced into France, meeting with resistance everywhere, but still they went steadily on, till at last they reached Paris, which they besieged for a long time, so that the people were obliged to eats cats, dogs, horses and even rats and mice, so that they had to give in. Then there was a treaty made, and Prussia made France give up the two provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, and also made them pay an immense sum of money, which was only paid off about 10 years ago. France cannot rest with Alsace and Lorraine in the hands of the Emperor of Germany, and keeps up large armies in the hopes of winning them back some day. Germany also keeps up large armies, in readiness for resistance, and these two countries make Europe like an armed camp.

2. In 1875 people thought that they would like a king again, but after all a new Constitution was made and passed by the Assembly. This government still lasts. There is a Chamber of Deputies, something like our English Parliament. There is also another Chamber called the Senate, like the House of Lords in England. A President is chosen, and after seven years, gives up his post, and someone else is chosen. Ministers carry on the government so as to please the National Assembly. New people must be chosen if they are not liked by the Assembly.

Roman History.

1. The Veintes, one of the Tuscan nations, declared that Romulus ill-treated the Fidenæ, who belonged to them. This was absurd, as the Veintes had not tried to help the Fidenæ when Romulus took them, and therefore they had a war, in which Romulus was victorious and on the anniversary for some years after the Romans celebrated their victory by having a herald who called through the town “Sardians to be sold” (the Veientes were called Sardians, because the Tuscans were descended from the Sardians) and several young boys in ropes represent (sic) the Veientes.

2. The Romans imagined that there were not enough women for them all to have a wife, so they attacked the Sabines and carried off several women. These were treated with courtesy and respect, but the Sabine men did not like it, and declared war. But while they were fighting the women ran in between, and beseeching, on one side their fathers, and on the other their husbands, to stop, they did stop, and made up the quarrel.

Geography.

1. The West Indies are a set of islands enclosing the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. They form two large groups, the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles. The largest island in the Greater Antilles is Cuba, which belongs to Spain. It is a lovely place, with palm-trees cocoa and coffee plantations, and sugar and tobacco are largely exported. The capital is Havana, where the best cigars in the world are made; and it also has a good harbour from whence is exported the sugar, coffee, cocoa and rum made in the island. The island next in size in our first group is Hayti, or St Domingo. Part of this island belongs to Spain, and the other part once belonged to France, but is now a little negro kingdom. Its capital is Port au Prince. Jamaica is the next island; this belongs to Britain, and is the chief place from which we get our sugar, cocoa and coffee. The capital is Kingston, a nice bright town, with churches and a Town Hall, and a governor’s residence. Porto Rico is a Spanish island of not very much importance. Its capital is Don Juan, named after the Spanish sailor who first discovered it. Then comes a little group of islands called the Virgin Islands, of which the most important is Santa Cruz, which belongs to Denmark. They are between the Greater and Lesser Antilles. The largest island in the Lesser Antilles is Guadeloupe, which belongs to France. It is a pleasant island, with a lovely bay on which stands the capital, Grande Terre. Dominica (British), Barbuda, Anguilla, Antigua, and St John’s (also British) are some of the most important British islands. The other French islands are Martinique, and Marie Galante. St Vincent, and Barbadoes (capital Bridgetown) are also important British islands. After passing the Lesser Antilles, we come to the beautiful island of Trinidad, with its capital, Port of Spain, on the lovely blue Gulf of Paria, which separates it from Venezuela.

[Map.]

4. Coral reefs are formed by tiny animals called “coral polypes” which, almost as soon as they are born, begin to separate part of their food to build up their houses. They often stick to one another and build in companies. We will imagine 10 of these little animals have started building at the bottom of the sea. Two or three of them may have stuck to each other, and soon a little pillar appears of red, white or (very rarely) black coral. New little polypes are born, and they build on and round their parents’ work. So it get (sic) broader and higher, and more and more little ones come to enlarge the work, till one day a point of red or white coral appears above the surface of the sea. More and more of it appears, till there is quite a little island. Then the wind often blows seeds, and the birds bring them, and the sea washes up sand into the nooks and crannies, till palm-trees grow, and other plants, and birds build their nests there, and maybe have tiny birds themselves, and so there is an island fit for man’s use, and it all started from two or three little coral polypes about ⅛ of an inch long.

Volcanoes are apparently openings in the earth’s crust down to (sic) very centre of the earth, where many people believe that there is a great fire, the remains of the days when the earth was a seething mass of fiery vapour. When eruptions break forth, flames and smoke reaching to an enormous height come out of the crater, and fiery lava runs in streams down the sides of the mountain, burning everything in its course, and stones and ashes are thrown out ever so far. In the sad eruption of Mont Pélée in 1901 ashes fell on steamers more than 100 miles away, and the noise of the eruption was heard for miles, and the city of St Pierre (the capital of Martinique) was entirely buried in ashes and lava; only a few church walls or street corners are remaining now to show that St Pierre was once a flourishing city. This shews that volcanoes are evidently openings through which the inside of the earth seems sometimes to “let off steam.”

[Diagrams.]

English Grammar.

One, numeral adj., modifying “flowers.” By, preposition, joining “one” to “one.” Close, transitive verb, 3rd pers. plur., Present Tense. Shutting, present participle, governing “petals.” Their, pers. poss. pron., 3rd pers. plur. From, preposition, governing “moon.” Still, adj., modifying “grasshoppers.” So, adv., modifying “soon.” Soon, adv. of time, modifying “are still.” Noisy, adj., qualifying “crows.”

2. Go quickly; he is dying. A dying man lies there. Making a dress is difficult. I am making a box. To tell tales is mean. I was to tell you that. But for him, I should not be here. Had you but a knife, we should be safe. Yes, but he is stupid, so I cannot make him hear.

3. Episode, epi-tome. Hypo-crite, hypo-thesis. Cata-ract, cat-astrophe, cat-hedral. Di-phong (sic). Syn-tax, syl-lable, sym-pathy.

Natural History.

1. (b) Foraminiferæ are in the Rhizopoda, or root-footed family. They have a little opening in their shells, through which they send out hairs to catch very tiny water creatures and suck them in. Their shells are made from something they swallow. They are all sorts of shapes, and can be seen without a microscope, though their lovely coloured shells and tiny bodies can be seen better with it. They increase by self-division, but they generally grow from tiny buds on the bodies of their mothers.

[Diagrams.]

Sponges are cousins to the Foraminiferæ, but are slightly higher up in the Rhizopoda family. They are full of tiny holes, with sometimes a bigger opening. These little holes lead into little passages, which are continually leading into one another, and the bigger holes lead into bigger passages. They are made of some sort of fine tissue, which the sponge animal makes out of some part of its food after it has been digested. In these passages tiny, soft slimy creatures live, which are able to throw out hairs from themselves, with which they sweep water in and out of their house. Their children are born from buds, by self-division, and also from eggs. Some sponges increase in all these different ways at once, so that one sponge often becomes the father of several families. Little hard things called Sponge spicules grow round the eggs to protect them. They are made from the lime the Sponge finds in the water, and often have beautiful shapes.

[Diagram.]

2. It has been found, that though people speak of the “everlasting hills” yet they cannot have been always where they are now. Mountains that are formed of rocks of any kind, either sedimentary, or organic, must have been laid down at the sea-bottom and something must have pushed them up; either earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions. If, for example, several different kinds of Sedimentary Rocks were laid down flat at the sea-bottom (fig. 1) till they were

[Diagram.]

hundreds, perhaps thousands of feet thick, and they also happened to lie on some weak part of the earth’s crust, where earthquakes sometimes happen, they may be squeezed or pushed up above the surface of the sea, and round them may be deposited more rocks, and they may be pushed up, and so land may be formed, with some parts higher than the rest, and these parts are called mountains.

Botany.

[Diagrams.]

2. The raspberry, strawberry and blackberry are all of the Rose family. But there are little differences between them; they are not all alike. The raspberry is like the strawberry in that its seedboxes grow on a mound. But when you look at the ripe fruit, you will see that the seedboxes themselves grow bigger, softer and rounder, and also they shrink away from the white mound, so that a ripe raspberry comes off without a little stalk, etc., hanging on. The Blackberry is just the same as the raspberry, only it is black, and the round juicy seed boxes do not shrink away from the mound quite so much. The construction of the strawberry fruit, however, is slightly different. Here it is the little mound that swells, and becomes a bright red, and the seed boxes (generally wrongly called “seeds”) remain hard and small, looking something like little yellow apple pips.

Euclid (first set).