DISTINGUISHED DOLTS
Sin,—The Spectator has more than -once given me the opportunity of emphasising in its columns the value of examinations as an indispensable part of educational work and as providing the only means of testing the attainment of a scholar and also the proficiency of his teacher in the particular subject which is being examined. It may be open to question whether any particular academic subject is worth the time and labour expended on it at school or college : but, if this be allowed, there is no fairer test than an examination.
Generally speaking, boys and girls who have shone at examinations have made good in life. Such at least has been my experience after having had several generations of the former under my care, ranging from a member of the Royal Family down to the son of a man on the dole. On the other hand, I have not found many dolts achieve eminence, The public need to be warned of the untruths which are being sedu- • lously propagated by those who desire to abolish examinations. For instance, in an article published last week in a•widely read paper, under the heading of " Dolts who succeed," Lord Elton cited the Prime Minister and G. K. Chesterton as examples of this. I should doubt whether the former ever was regarded as a congenital idiot at Harrow; but, I have every reason to know that G.K.C. was not, as I happened to be a con- temporary of his at St. Paul's in the 'nineties of the last century.
At this school Chesterton, a tall lanky youth for his age, won the School Essay Prize more than once by examination. With E. C. Bentley, R. E. Vernede and others he founded a magazine there which was highly commended by the " Old Man," as we used to call our Headmaster, F. W. Walker, whose cartoon by " Spy " hanging in my study also designates him. I can also remember G.K.C. receiving the unique honour of ranking with ibe Classical Eighth honoris causa. Certainly none of his schoolfellows regarded him as a dolt.
If, then, Lord Elton is so palpably mistaken as regards one at least of the two instances which he produces to justify his " dolt" theory, can he be trusted in the conclusions which he draws from an entirely false The Vicarage, St. Michaels-on-Wyre, Preston.
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