11 DECEMBER 2004, Page 32

The class of '98

From Dr Sheridan Gilley Sir: Jonathan Osborne (Letters, 4 December) misses the point of the 1898 exam paper, in dismissing it for teaching such outdated skills as the 'ability to translate Latin into English, identify genitive plurals, multiply pounds, shillings and pence or manipulate fractions'. These exercises, at the very least, teach precision and accuracy of expression and thought; and that is exactly what most modern education fails to do.

Sheridan Gilley

University of Durham, County Durham