Short story: alien planet where slow students are executed





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I read this in the mid-nineties in what seemed to be new hardback book, but some of the other anthology stories seemed 'of the sixties'.



The narrator was recounting his experience visiting some alien world and getting told about their education system. Basically the poorer performing students are hanged as an incentive to the others to work harder.



This has resulted, after generations, in having a world of very high educated and quick learners. An example is the narrator needs new spectacles and a typical passing student is called over, utilising normal household items he diagnoses the lens strength required, makes and polishes the glasses and presents them to narrator, all within (I think) eight minutes.



Narrator witnesses a few more examples like this, including the ability to create a ftl spacecraft out of kitchen white goods within thirty minutes, then he returns to Earth.



On Earth he discusses the educational system with an enquiry board and the consensus is there is nothing to fear from the aliens, a typical Earth student is capable of building such an ftl spacecraft in less than twenty minutes










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  • 1





    "slow" students being killed sounded funnier in my head!

    – Möoz
    10 hours ago






  • 1





    Your version sounds much funnier than the actual ending.

    – Adamant
    8 hours ago











  • Yeah, old memories create better stories IMO

    – DannyMcG
    5 hours ago


















8















I read this in the mid-nineties in what seemed to be new hardback book, but some of the other anthology stories seemed 'of the sixties'.



The narrator was recounting his experience visiting some alien world and getting told about their education system. Basically the poorer performing students are hanged as an incentive to the others to work harder.



This has resulted, after generations, in having a world of very high educated and quick learners. An example is the narrator needs new spectacles and a typical passing student is called over, utilising normal household items he diagnoses the lens strength required, makes and polishes the glasses and presents them to narrator, all within (I think) eight minutes.



Narrator witnesses a few more examples like this, including the ability to create a ftl spacecraft out of kitchen white goods within thirty minutes, then he returns to Earth.



On Earth he discusses the educational system with an enquiry board and the consensus is there is nothing to fear from the aliens, a typical Earth student is capable of building such an ftl spacecraft in less than twenty minutes










share|improve this question




















  • 1





    "slow" students being killed sounded funnier in my head!

    – Möoz
    10 hours ago






  • 1





    Your version sounds much funnier than the actual ending.

    – Adamant
    8 hours ago











  • Yeah, old memories create better stories IMO

    – DannyMcG
    5 hours ago














8












8








8


1






I read this in the mid-nineties in what seemed to be new hardback book, but some of the other anthology stories seemed 'of the sixties'.



The narrator was recounting his experience visiting some alien world and getting told about their education system. Basically the poorer performing students are hanged as an incentive to the others to work harder.



This has resulted, after generations, in having a world of very high educated and quick learners. An example is the narrator needs new spectacles and a typical passing student is called over, utilising normal household items he diagnoses the lens strength required, makes and polishes the glasses and presents them to narrator, all within (I think) eight minutes.



Narrator witnesses a few more examples like this, including the ability to create a ftl spacecraft out of kitchen white goods within thirty minutes, then he returns to Earth.



On Earth he discusses the educational system with an enquiry board and the consensus is there is nothing to fear from the aliens, a typical Earth student is capable of building such an ftl spacecraft in less than twenty minutes










share|improve this question
















I read this in the mid-nineties in what seemed to be new hardback book, but some of the other anthology stories seemed 'of the sixties'.



The narrator was recounting his experience visiting some alien world and getting told about their education system. Basically the poorer performing students are hanged as an incentive to the others to work harder.



This has resulted, after generations, in having a world of very high educated and quick learners. An example is the narrator needs new spectacles and a typical passing student is called over, utilising normal household items he diagnoses the lens strength required, makes and polishes the glasses and presents them to narrator, all within (I think) eight minutes.



Narrator witnesses a few more examples like this, including the ability to create a ftl spacecraft out of kitchen white goods within thirty minutes, then he returns to Earth.



On Earth he discusses the educational system with an enquiry board and the consensus is there is nothing to fear from the aliens, a typical Earth student is capable of building such an ftl spacecraft in less than twenty minutes







story-identification short-stories






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edited 10 hours ago









Stormblessed

2,4101837




2,4101837










asked 10 hours ago









DannyMcGDannyMcG

2,67622677




2,67622677








  • 1





    "slow" students being killed sounded funnier in my head!

    – Möoz
    10 hours ago






  • 1





    Your version sounds much funnier than the actual ending.

    – Adamant
    8 hours ago











  • Yeah, old memories create better stories IMO

    – DannyMcG
    5 hours ago














  • 1





    "slow" students being killed sounded funnier in my head!

    – Möoz
    10 hours ago






  • 1





    Your version sounds much funnier than the actual ending.

    – Adamant
    8 hours ago











  • Yeah, old memories create better stories IMO

    – DannyMcG
    5 hours ago








1




1





"slow" students being killed sounded funnier in my head!

– Möoz
10 hours ago





"slow" students being killed sounded funnier in my head!

– Möoz
10 hours ago




1




1





Your version sounds much funnier than the actual ending.

– Adamant
8 hours ago





Your version sounds much funnier than the actual ending.

– Adamant
8 hours ago













Yeah, old memories create better stories IMO

– DannyMcG
5 hours ago





Yeah, old memories create better stories IMO

– DannyMcG
5 hours ago










1 Answer
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10














"The Primary Education of the Camiroi" by R. A. Lafferty.



Also the answer to Trying to find a short story (maybe two in the same collection) about Alien education versus Earth




If a child has not learned to accept discipline by the third or fourth
grade, he is hanged.



..................



It was rather revealing to us that the little boy was able to test
Miss Munch's eyes, grind lenses, make frames, and have her fixed up within three minutes.




The ending is not as optimistic as you recall.




Not one Earth child in five could build a faster-than-light vehicle
and travel it beyond our galaxy between now and midnight.







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    1 Answer
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    active

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    10














    "The Primary Education of the Camiroi" by R. A. Lafferty.



    Also the answer to Trying to find a short story (maybe two in the same collection) about Alien education versus Earth




    If a child has not learned to accept discipline by the third or fourth
    grade, he is hanged.



    ..................



    It was rather revealing to us that the little boy was able to test
    Miss Munch's eyes, grind lenses, make frames, and have her fixed up within three minutes.




    The ending is not as optimistic as you recall.




    Not one Earth child in five could build a faster-than-light vehicle
    and travel it beyond our galaxy between now and midnight.







    share|improve this answer






























      10














      "The Primary Education of the Camiroi" by R. A. Lafferty.



      Also the answer to Trying to find a short story (maybe two in the same collection) about Alien education versus Earth




      If a child has not learned to accept discipline by the third or fourth
      grade, he is hanged.



      ..................



      It was rather revealing to us that the little boy was able to test
      Miss Munch's eyes, grind lenses, make frames, and have her fixed up within three minutes.




      The ending is not as optimistic as you recall.




      Not one Earth child in five could build a faster-than-light vehicle
      and travel it beyond our galaxy between now and midnight.







      share|improve this answer




























        10












        10








        10







        "The Primary Education of the Camiroi" by R. A. Lafferty.



        Also the answer to Trying to find a short story (maybe two in the same collection) about Alien education versus Earth




        If a child has not learned to accept discipline by the third or fourth
        grade, he is hanged.



        ..................



        It was rather revealing to us that the little boy was able to test
        Miss Munch's eyes, grind lenses, make frames, and have her fixed up within three minutes.




        The ending is not as optimistic as you recall.




        Not one Earth child in five could build a faster-than-light vehicle
        and travel it beyond our galaxy between now and midnight.







        share|improve this answer















        "The Primary Education of the Camiroi" by R. A. Lafferty.



        Also the answer to Trying to find a short story (maybe two in the same collection) about Alien education versus Earth




        If a child has not learned to accept discipline by the third or fourth
        grade, he is hanged.



        ..................



        It was rather revealing to us that the little boy was able to test
        Miss Munch's eyes, grind lenses, make frames, and have her fixed up within three minutes.




        The ending is not as optimistic as you recall.




        Not one Earth child in five could build a faster-than-light vehicle
        and travel it beyond our galaxy between now and midnight.








        share|improve this answer














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        edited 9 hours ago

























        answered 10 hours ago









        Organic MarbleOrganic Marble

        26.2k491135




        26.2k491135






























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