First
year at Harrow
By
Winston Churchill
The writer says
that the examiners ask questions which students cannot answer and not those which
they can answer. Is the writer’s complaint just or he is merely exaggerating?
The writer is specifically
talking about the subjects he did not like, Latin and mathematics. It is quite
normal for students to struggle in subjects they do not like. The writer did
not like Latin and mathematics, so naturally he was not very good at them. Therefore,
in examination, it appeared to him that the examiners were trying to expose his
ignorance. But the fact of the matter was, he was not good at these subjects. In
view of the above, it can be safely said that the writer’s complaint is not
just. He is merely exaggerating the issue to hide his own lack of interest in
these subjects.
What sort of questions
are asked by your examiner?
Most of the time, our
examiners ask questions which are pertaining to the syllabus that we had studied.
There are very rare examples that some examiners may ask questions which are
not included in the syllabus. Sometimes, they ask questions indirectly which
can confuse the students and they may struggle to answer them. But more often
than not the questions are direct and from the prescribed syllabus.
Why did not Churchill
do well in examinations?
Churchill did not do
well in examinations because he did not like Latin and Mathematics which were
considered major subjects. He liked Poetry, History and Essay Writing and
wanted to be examined in these subjects. The examiners on the other hand were
partial to Latin and Mathematics. Since he did not like these subjects,
therefore, he felt that the examiners were asking questions to which he could
not find a satisfactory answer. This was the reason why Churchill did not do
well in examinations.
How did he
attempt his Latin paper?
In his entrance
examination at Harrow, Churchill was examined in Latin Prose. Since he did not
like the subject, therefore, he was unable to answer even a single question. He
just wrote his name at the top of the page and then he wrote the number of the
question. After much reflection, he could only think of putting a bracket round
it. After that, he could not think of a single thing connected to it which was
either relevant or true. Incidentally, he dropped some ink on his paper and his
paper was stained. He looked at this sad spectacle for whole two hours until
the merciful ushers collected his paper.
Churchill was taught
English at Harrow and not Latin and Greek. Did he get any advantage or
disadvantage of it in professional life? Was it a gain or loss?
Churchill was
considered a weak student because he did not do well in his entrance
examination and he was also not so good at Mathematics. Therefore, he was only
taught English as compared to cleverer boys who were taught Latin and Greek.
Churchill was benefitted greatly from this apparent disadvantage at Harrow. He did
not find himself at any disadvantage in professional life. He spent three years
learning English grammar and essential structure of English sentence. Therefore,
he got immense advantage over the boys who learnt Latin and Greek at school
because they have to return to English to prosper in their professional life. So,
it can be safely said that what seemed a loss for him in the beginning turned out
to be a great gain in the end.
What good did his
three years stay at Harrow do him?
His three years stay
at Harrow did a great good to him in his professional life. As he was considered
a weak student and only taught English for three years, he learnt the English
grammar and essential structure of English sentence thoroughly. This mastery over
English language did him great good when he entered the professional life because
English was the official language of England.
In after years how
did the knowledge of English stand him in good stead?
The knowledge of English
stood him in good stead because English was the official language of England. It
was the language of the court and the language of the masses as well. His
mastery over the English language benefitted him greatly in his professional
life and as well as in his writings.
Critically appraise
Churchill’s views with regard to the study of Latin, Greek and English and
their value in earning a living?
Churchill’s views about
the study of above languages are practical and praiseworthy. It is not worthwhile
to spend a great deal of time and energy to learn languages that are dead and
now has no use in practical and professional life. The first priority should be
given to the language we are to use in our practical and professional life.
However, it must not lead to the conclusion that Churchill was against these languages
or he is against learning more than one language. All he is suggesting that the
students should not be forced to learn something for which he will not have any
use in his professional life. Let him study the subjects which are important
and beneficial in the professional life. The subjects like Latin and Greek can
be learnt afterwards if anyone wishes to learn them.
Comments
Post a Comment