Probability is high that the exam is authentic, but for prospective teachers, not students. My grandfather taught school when he was just out of high school at age 18, about 1890, with some students less than a year younger than he was. To teach at that time, one had to be a high school graduate and pass the teacher exam administered by the County Superintendent of Schools. He passed the test, and taught all grades for a couple years, until he settled down to farm (and later serve on the school board for about 30 years). Requirements for college degrees and State certifications came about later.

With the current system of Unified School Districts replacing the previous county schools in 1965, records of the former County Superintendent of Schools went to Registers of Deeds in each KS county. These records include exam scores of prospective teachers previous to uniform State standards.

Someone from KSHS or Emporia State University (previously, Emporia State Teachers College, and, I believe, Kansas Normal even earlier) may be able to be more definitive.
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-----Original Message-----
From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Christopher Shea
Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 2:38 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Teaching History


There's also snopes.com, a resource that no one ought to read his or her
e-mail without: 

http://www.snopes.com/language/document/1895exam.htm

-----Original Message-----
From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Teresa Rice
Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 3:26 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Teaching History

I found this web site on Google when I was trying to answer one of the
questions. ;-D
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/a/1895exam.htm

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