There have always been bad students. Here’s what kids were writing on English exams 150 years ago:

• ABORIGINES, a system of mountains.
• ALIAS, a good man in the Bible.
• AMENABLE, anything that is mean.
• AMMONIA, the food of the gods.
• ASSIDUITY, state of being an acid.
• AURIFEROUS, pertaining to an orifice.
• CORNIFEROUS, rocks in which fossil corn is found.
• EMOLUMENT, a headstone to a grave.
• EQUESTRIAN, one who asks questions.
• EUCHARIST, one who plays euchre.
• FRANCHISE, anything belonging to the French.
• IDOLATER, a very idle person.
• IPECAC, a man who likes a good dinner.
• IRRIGATE, to make fun of.
• MENDACIOUS, what can be mended.
• MERCENARY, one who feels for another.
• PARASITE, a kind of umbrella.
• PARASITE, the murder of an infant.
• PUBLICAN, a man who does his prayers in public.
• TENACIOUS, ten acres of land.
• REPUBLICAN, a sinner mentioned in the Bible.
• PLAGIARIST, a writer of plays.

— From Mark Twain, “English as She Is Taught: Being Genuine Answers to Examination Questions in Our Public Schools,” 1887