The outcries which continue to be made against these examinations by
some of the organs of opinion, are often, I regret to say, as little
creditable to the good faith as to the good sense of the assailants.
They proceed partly by misrepresentation of the kind of ignorance
which, as a matter of fact, actually leads to failure in the
examinations. They quote with emphasis the most recondite questions*
which can be shown to have been ever asked, and make it appear as if
unexceptionable answers to all these were made the sine qua non of
success. Yet it has been repeated to satiety that such questions are
not put because it is expected of every one that he should answer
them, but in order that whoever is able to do so may have the means of
proving and availing himself of that portion of his knowledge. It is
not as a ground of rejection, but as an additional means of success,
that this opportunity is given. We are then asked whether the kind
of knowledge supposed in this, that, or the other question is
calculated to be of any use to the candidate after he has attained his
object. People differ greatly in opinion as to what knowledge is
useful. There are persons in existence, and a late Foreign Secretary
of State is one of them, who think English spelling a useless
accomplishment in a diplomatic attache, or a clerk in a government
office. About one thing the objectors seem to be unanimous, that
general mental cultivation is not useful in these employments,
whatever else may be so.
Pages:
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307