I think this is from the traditional "Trivium" - grammar, logic, rhetoric - which was considered to be a well-rounded education (presumably for scions of wealth

I think this is from the traditional "Trivium" - grammar, logic, rhetoric - which was considered to be a well-rounded education (presumably for scions of wealthy families). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trivium https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trivium In contrast, "Quadrivium" - arithmetic, geometry, music, astronomy - was a follow-up. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrivium https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrivium These constituted the "seven arts". But it was perfectly fine just to be educated in the trivia, if math wasn't your cup of tea. See the "Yes Minister" clip where Sir Humphrey vehemently denies being so low-standard as to be educated in the sciences - he was good enough to study the classics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckgt4VWIsf4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckgt4VWIsf4 (edited for better grammar, logic and rhetoric.)