16 hilarious answers our ancestors gave in school tests
1 minute read
By Niall Cullen | September 3, 2019
You won’t believe some of the shameless exam responses we’ve uncovered in our historical newspapers.
Do you fondly look back on your school days as the best times of your life? Well, it seems that times may not have changed as much as we’d like to think they have. Children throughout history certainly didn’t let strict schoolmasters and challenging conundrums distract from their fun. You only have to delve into our newspaper archive for the proof. But were these school test answers cheeky comebacks or innocent blunders? Decide for yourself.
Leamington Spa Courier, April 18, 1913
Manchester Evening News, August 6, 1917
Sheffield Weekly Telegraph, May 30, 1914
Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette, January 9, 1914
Gloucester Citizen, August 19, 1925
Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette, August 22, 1923
Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, April 7, 1906
Whitby Gazette, August 19, 1904
Worcestershire Chronicle, December 7, 1901
Derby Daily Telegraph, November 16, 1905
Tamworth Herald, May 19, 1900
Nottingham Evening Post, April 18, 1933
Discover your family’s school days
What do you really know about your ancestor’s childhood? One simple yet revealing way to find out more about their formative years is to look at their school records. One particular highlight is our exclusive collection of England & Wales National School Admission Registers & Log-Books. They will give you family tree information that you won’t find elsewhere. The records come from schools, record offices, and archives throughout England and Wales and date back to 1870. Trace your relative’s entry among the nearly 10 million records, and as well as basic names and dates, you could uncover their exam results, reasons for absence, and even lesson plans. So, you’ll soon realize if you descend from a line of scholars or troublemakers.
