# Help me ID a short story (possibly SF)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-id-a-short-story-possibly-sf/718893>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 30, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-id-a-short-story-possibly-sf/718893 "2015-04-30T14:14:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-id-a-short-story-possibly-sf/718893/1 "2015-04-30T14:14:35Z")

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I could swear this was asked here before (years ago) but I can’t find it at all.

The story is about a man who is preparing to take a test. The narration is about how proud he was when he became a school principal and how much more he can do for the children and society if he passes this test, so you’re led to believe he’s testing to become some sort of superintendent or board of education member. At the end, it’s revealed that he’s testing to become a teacher.

I say this may be a science fiction story because it’s pretty counterfactual and because at the time I read it (30-some years ago) I was mostly reading sci-fi and fantasy.

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**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-id-a-short-story-possibly-sf/718893/2 "2015-04-30T15:08:50Z")

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“Gladly Wolde He Lerne” by Harry Turtledove

> **[Gladly Wolde He Lerne](https://turtledove.fandom.com/wiki/Gladly_Wolde_He_Lerne)**
>
> "Gladly Wolde He Lerne" is a short story written by Harry Turtledove. It was originally published in Analog Magazine in January 1991, and reprinted in the Turtledove collection Departures in 1993. The story depicts the efforts of Ted Collins, over...

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**Author:** ![Dave\_Enn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dave_enn/32/426_2.png) [@Dave\_Enn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Enn)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-id-a-short-story-possibly-sf/718893/3 "2015-04-30T15:09:39Z")

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I’m pretty sure that was a story by Harry Turtledove.  
Can’t remember the title (or the name of the collection it was from).

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-id-a-short-story-possibly-sf/718893/4 "2015-04-30T15:16:22Z")

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That must be it…found it online and it tracks with what I remember. It’s a lot more recent than I thought it was! Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-id-a-short-story-possibly-sf/718893/5 "2015-04-30T15:17:30Z")

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> [@jayjay](#):
>
> That must be it…found it online and it tracks with what I remember. It’s a lot more recent than I thought it was! Thanks!

Glad to help