FOR years, I sat examinations and each one I took tested what I remembered rather than what I understood. I now remember even less of what I was spoon-fed than I did at the time, which begs the question as to why we test knowledge not comprehension.
My most helpful subject was Geometry, which has little practical relevance but trains the brain to think laterally. I remember failing a biochemistry degree exam in part over my lack of detailed knowledge of the Kreb’s citric acid cycle. Yet I spent a summer trying to remember chemical formulae never again to use that knowledge.
I have never needed to refer to Mr Kreb’s discovery. What was the point? I believe I was a credit to my profession despite many if not most of the facts memorised to jump through O-level, Highers, undergraduate and post-graduate hoops having long since evaporated from my cerebral cortex.
When one looks at how Finland has dramatically raised educational standards by teaching less, abandoning homework and ditching standardised exams, one wonders whether John Swinney’s revamp of the education system goes far enough (“Scottish school reforms attacked as ‘dysfunctional’ and ‘unwanted’”, The Herald, June 23). There is no private education in Finland so society as a whole has a vested interest in ensuring the state education system is the best it can be with the added bonus of breaking down social barriers at an early age.
If 12 Scottish students drop out of further education each day perhaps Nicola Sturgeon should investigate why they become disenchanted with their courses rather than query the methodology used to count them.
For years the medical profession treated gastric ulcers by partial gastrectomy; that is, radical surgery. Now you are given a pot of yoghurt to treat the same condition (okay, I exaggerate) but it demonstrates that the traditional method is not always best. We should use the education system to create well-rounded personalities, not churn out drones.
David J Crawford,
Flat 3/3 131 Shuna Street,
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel