THE REAL STORY

The dunce cap comes from a 13th-century philosopher named John Duns Scotus, who, not surpisingly, was born in Duns, Scotland. This well-respected scholar felt that conical hats actually increased learning potential. Here's the theory - knowledge is centralized at the apex and then funneled down into the mind of the wearer. He was widely praised by scholars in his day, but eventually (due to Viking pressure) fell out of intellectual favor. To the Viking's, his "duns cap" was a pretty obvious target of derision and came to symbolize stupidity. So the logic behind the dunce cap is that it makes slow pupils learn better, but to the cruel Vikings, it was used to humiliate the wearer and motivate slow Viking students to try harder. So now you know that the conical cap is actually a focus for great intellect. Only in the mind of the Viking is it an object of derision and used to humiliate slow students!

AND THAT'S THE TRUTH! YOU CAN LOOK IT UP!!!!

dunce.gif missing - Animation by Barlekis the Wizard

VIKING REBUTTAL TO THE REAL STORY!

wizard-intelligence.gif missing - Animation by the Happy Little Viking

BUT YOU NEED ALL THE FACTS!

diploma.gif missing - Animation by Barlekis the Wizard