Painted in 1845, it portrays Russian schoolkids (ten years old, maybe?) pensively solving a maths puzzle written on the blackboard by their teacher. No calculators, no pencil and paper, but they look eager to try. Confident, even.
The sum in question is below.
Reckon kids of that age in our much-vaunted state system could perform mental gymnastics such as this?Actually, don't answer that.
(If you attempt it yourself, no cheating allowed)
