[Boatanchors] A short Vent

[Glen Zook via Boatanchors]

In my opinion, it was the fact that, to become an amateur radio operator, one had to learn a lot of things with the International Morse code being one of those things.  Today, with the question pool having to be published, and that includes exactly the correct answer and all the wrong answers which must be on the examination, it is way too easy to memorize the the answers to the test.
Now, there are those who say that it is impossible to memorize all the answers.  This is true when someone is asked to verbalize the answers.  However, with enough repetition, the human brain can recognize the correct answer without any understanding of why the answer is correct.  This method is being taught in the public school system so that the students can pass standardized tests.
Since there are numerous Internet sites where sample tests can be taken, most people can take enough tests and the correct answers are implanted into their brains.  Then, when the examinations are taken, their brain recognizes the correct answer even though the person has absolutely no knowledge as to why the answer is correct.
Yes, there are those who really want to learn why an answer is correct.  Unfortunately, the vast majority of people just want to pass the tests and don't want to bother to learn anything!
Of course, there are those of us who actually remember the "goode olde dayes" when one had to know something in order to get an amateur radio operators license.  In October of 1959, when I took my General Class examinations in Chicago, Illinois, one had to first pass the code examination.  Then, the written examination was presented.  On my test, there were very few multiple choice questions.  But, there were plenty of "fill in the blank" questions, draw schematics, and calculate various values where one had to "show their work" on "scratch paper" provided by the examiner.
In those days, a calculator was not in existence but slide rules were allowed.  Of course, using a slide rule only got the numbers calculated, one had to know the formulas and how to use those formulas.
I took my Novice Class examination on my 15th birthday, 13 February 1959 (the license was dated 15 May 1959 and didn't arrive for almost 2-weeks after the issue date).  That examination was fairly easy but still required some knowledge.
My General Class examination was the hardest examination that I ever took for a radio operator's license.  My commercial operator's examinations, which I took in August 1962, were on par with the General Class examinations.
My Advanced Class examination, which I took at the Dallas, Texas, FCC office in September of 1968, was multiple choice.  However, one still had to do calculations to get a number of the answers.  Just for grins, I worked a couple of problems with parts of the formula reversed, etc.  There was an answer available that reflected this improper use of the formula!
The General Class, and Advanced Class, examination were taken under the supervision of an FCC engineer.
Finally, I took the Amateur Extra Class examination.  This examination was taken at a VE session.  Frankly, it was VERY easy!  In fact, it wasn't much harder than my Novice Class examination.  The main thing was that there were a lot more questions!
For me, the examinations were, ranked in hardest to easiest, in the following order:
General Class, Advanced Class, Amateur Extra Class, Novice Class.
There are those who criticize the newcomers for not having to pass examinations that were used decades ago.  Frankly, it is NOT the fault of those persons!  They are passing the required examinations.  What is deserving of criticism is the process itself.  Unfortunately, certain organizations pressured for increased numbers of amateur radio operators with no regard for the quality of these newcomers.  It is my opinion, that it was hoped that these newcomers would join the organization to replace the dwindling number of members, many of whom had become disenchanted with the direction the organization was going.  
A goodly number of these newcomers are coming from the ranks of the 47 CFR Part 95 Subpart D ("CB") and/or from the "freebanders" who operate illegally on the "CB" frequencies  and on other frequencies in the 25 MHz to 28 MHz segment.  The majority of these persons have no regard, at all, for FCC regulations as well as having a distorted view of technical things.  Frankly, there is a LOT of just plain WRONG understanding of a lot of technical information which is presented as fact.
Then, throw in the "me first" attitude of a lot of people today, and there are definitely problems! Glen, K9STH

Website: http://k9sth.net
      From: GENE <erastber at tampabay.rr.com>
 To: Jim Haynes <jhhaynes at earthlink.net>; jbrannig at verizon.net 
Cc: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net 
 Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2014 9:13 AM
 Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] A short Vent
   
Is it my imagination or my 80-year old brain playing a trick on me:

"Were the new Hams smarter when they HAD to learn CW?"