Book cover
In Winston Churchill’s 1930
autobiography “My Early Life”, which deals with the years 1874-1902, Churchill
wrote of his difficulties at school.
Here is an extract:
I had scarcely passed my twelfth
birthday when I entered the inhospitable regions of examinations, through which
for the next seven years I was destined to journey. These examinations were a
great trial to me. The subjects which were dearest to the examiners were almost
invariably those I fancied least. I would have liked to have been examined in
history, poetry and writing essays. The examiners, on the other hand, were
partial to Latin and mathematics. And their will prevailed. Moreover, the
questions which they asked on both these subjects were almost invariably those
to which I was unable to suggest a satisfactory answer. I should have liked to
be asked to say what I knew. They always tried to ask what I did not know. When
I would have willingly displayed my knowledge, they sought to expose my
ignorance. This sort of treatment had only one result: I did not do well in
examinations.
This was especially true of my
Entrance Examination to Harrow. The Headmaster, Mr. Welldon, however, took a
broad-minded view of my Latin prose: he showed discernment in judging my
general ability. This was the more remarkable, because I was found unable to
answer a single question in the Latin paper. I wrote my name at the top of the
page. I wrote down the number of the question " I." After much
reflection I put a bracket round it thus "(I)." But thereafter I
could not think of anything connected with it that was either relevant or true.
Incidentally there arrived from nowhere in particular a blot and several
smudges. I gazed for two whole hours at this sad spectacle and then merciful
ushers collected my piece of foolscap with all the others and carried it up to
the Headmaster's table. It was from these slender indications of scholarship
that Mr. Welldon drew the conclusion that I was worthy to pass into Harrow. It
is very much to his credit. It showed that he was a man capable of looking
beneath the surface of things: a man not dependent upon paper manifestations. I
have always had the greatest regard for him.
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