MR. BLAIR, the L.C.C. Education Officer, is dissatisfied, according to
_The Daily Chronicle_, with the questions put at school examinations,
on the ground that they do not test the thoughtfulness and ingenuity
of the pupil. The "Why" as well as the "What" should be developed,
and to illustrate the value of the method proposed Mr. BLAIR suggests
various sample questions, e.g.:--
"How do you account for the density of the population in
Staffordshire?
"Find out from your atlas the distance from London to Glasgow.
How long would it take you to go there by train? What would the
third-class fare be at a penny a mile?
"How can we discover the minimum conditions necessary for the
germination of a bean?
"ARISTOTLE remarked that a bee will visit one type of flower only
during one journey from the hive. Find out if this is true, and,
if true, point out its significance from the point of view of the
flower."
As Mr. BLAIR remarks, a quest is better than a question. We agree, and
venture to start a few more quests:--
"Find out from _Who's Who_ the literary productions of Miss MARIE
CORELLI and Mr. HALL CAINE, and trace their effect on the density of
the population of Warwickshire and the Isle of Man respectively.
"ARISTOTLE remarked that one swallow does not make a summer. Find out
whether this is true, and, if true, explain its bearing on the thirst
of the swallower.
"Find out on your map the distance from Madrid to Jaffa, and state
what would be the cost of a cargo of Spanish onions and Jerusalem
artichokes delivered in the London Docks.
"What is the minimum time necessary for the incubation of a Scarlet
Pimpernel?
What are the statutory dimensions of a gigantic gooseberry? Have you
ever seen one, and if not why not?"
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