Bleak future if you are smart

[evans]

I seek the title and author of a disturbingly unforgettable story I read in 1962 or 63. As I recall, the scene takes place at home - parents and children. One child is of the age to take an important test later in the day and the parents are very worried. The fear ultimately turns out to be that the child is too smart and will do too well on the test - because whoever rules this world uses the mandatory test to identify the smart kids and eliminate them. The child in question demonstrates his brains or curiosity in small but unmistakable ways and the reader can only assume the worst (or best). Perhaps the child had a stupider brother who got through the test ok.

Thanks for any who can help identify this tale!

 

[Pyan]

I'm pretty sure this is Examination Day by Henry Seslar...

And it's pretty easy to tell, because it's here:

Examination Day by Henry Slesar

 

[thepaladin]

Examination Day was also done as a Twilight Zone episode later. I believe there was a story or novel based on the oppisite of this....that the rulers spotted the more intelegent and then pulled them out to join the ruling class. Can't remember the title.

 

[The Judge]

Neat little story with a nasty sting in the tail. And I can't help thinking that perhaps the authorities have already started the intelligent-winnowing judging from the comments in the responses section of the link Pyan gave - I'm amazed some of the morons there actually understand how to switch a computer on.

J

 

[Ursa major]

Someone switched it on for them, J, and they don't know how to switch it off. (I guess that they must have text-to-speech and speech-to-text enabled as well.)


Simples.

 

[Lenny]

What a strangely disturbing story! I shudder to think what society would be like were it true.

I seem to remember a similar system in a recent book - the families were constantly tested, and progressed in society (and were given better clothes of brighter colours, and new homes) based on their collective results. Can't remember which book, though...

EDIT: William Nicholson's The Wind Singer.

 

[Clansman]

I have to agree with The Judge, whose judgment, in this case, is unassailable by any appeal. Obviously, the intelligent ones were gotten rid of, as the posts got successively more stupid. The morons there appear to only know how to spell profane words. Wouldn't know a profound thought if it slapped them in the face.

Neat story.

 

[Wiglaf]

I don't know. I liked the concept. I am not sure about the actual way it was written.

 

[dustinzgirl]

Some people that are really stupid are also really sweet, however!

 

[Pyan]

Obviously, the intelligent ones were gotten rid of, as the posts got successively more stupid. The morons there appear to only know how to spell profane words. Wouldn't know a profound thought if it slapped them in the face.

Except for the last one, I trust...

 

[thepaladin]

I prefer not to insult....but I did love the person who wasn't sure the boy died.

I find the story disturbing....but then look at public schools and see what appears to be a concerted effort to "dumb down" the American population. Don't know if it's the same in the UK, but the ignorance of a lot of people I meet scares me.....really.

Next they'll probably initiate The Lottery.

 

[thatollie]

Wow Py, that comments section could use a Darwin Award or five.