Posts by Amanda Hughes37

hiddendriver34 said:Do you actually have any data to back that up, or are you just talking out of your hat?

Let me tell you, in the school where I teach, that is absolutely not the case. I know plenty of kids who missed their state exams because they were sick with stuff that wasn't life-threatening and didn't require a hospital stay. Maybe those are outliers, or maybe my school is just some weird anomaly, I don't know. But you seem to be an expert on how every other school in the country operates—what are you, a statistician with access to all the national data?

I really hope your main argument isn't just "well, I did it that way." 😉

Let’s be clear: regarding standardized testing, the only students actually feeling the pressure are the ones aiming for top-tier universities. Everyone else doesn't care—they aren't losing sleep over deadlines.
My stance remains that if it's feasible and the student wants it, they should be allowed to take it during the first round.
At least you don't think that's a total joke... because it isn't.
Honestly, I always assumed you could sit for exams even if, say, you were hospitalized... they bring the paperwork to you and you test if you're up for it.
Just like how people receive mail-in ballots for elections, or how homebound instruction is organized for the sick... it makes sense.

Sean Stewart said:And let’s be real—what sane person is going to babysit a student who tested positive? A teacher isn't there to act as a diagnostic judge to determine if a result is a fluke or the real deal. Graduation exams are a once-in-a-lifetime event, and it’s a massive problem if you're unlucky enough to get hit with a positive test on that specific day. It’s like if someone had crashed their car in a crosswalk back in 2013—they’d miss their window through no fault of their own. Or if a dog bit them on the way to school. Those are rare scenarios now, I suppose, though I suspect it’s equally rare for someone who actually took precautions to end up in isolation—and even rarer for it to be a false positive. But this isolation issue isn't just about students or schools; it affects everyone. Positive tests mean people are sidelined from everything—traveling, attending funerals for loved ones, you name it.

If a student plays it smart before finals and avoids large crowds, theoretically, they shouldn't even end up in quarantine—after all, who’s going to report them as a contact? These exams take place long enough after regular classes end that being stuck in isolation because of a classmate or a teacher isn't really an issue.

As for other situations, plenty of adults take precautions a few days before major events just to stay healthy—say, so they can head back to work in Germany or somewhere similar. I know people in my circle who work in Austria, Germany, and places like that; they come home maybe once a month, and during those few days, they skip the birthdays and the restaurants just to avoid catching anything. If they test positive, they can't fly back to their jobs, and many of them are looking at pay cuts or even losing their positions entirely, especially since most are on fixed-term contracts.

You simply cannot force a teacher, or anyone else for that matter, to gamble with their own health by hosting a student who has a confirmed positive test.

I wasn't suggesting testing every single graduate—just those currently in isolation who are requesting to sit for the exam. I'm certain there aren't hundreds of thousands of those cases.

So, you're implying anyone willing to be in close quarters with a positive student isn't sane?

Masks and social distancing... I'm not questioning that part...☕

Not to mention there are people working in the system who have already recovered from COVID.

urbantinker8 said:Maybe we could finally get some actual reading comprehension around here.😉

Fair point... you were reacting to last year's news.

As far as your attitude goes—it doesn't change a thing.

So, basically, we have no guidance for this year.
Three students testing positive for COVID were sent home during finals week. I assume nobody cared—because if they did, God knows how that would have played out.

Drew Johnson2 said:I mean, what’s the logic there... if students in Oregon were cleared to sit for their finals last year, then surely they'll be permitted to do the same this time around, right?

Of course they can—this whole debate only kicked off because urbantinker8 reacted to the news with a single 🤮 emoji, implying people aren't sane for actually expecting something from their professors.

Susan James said:Katarina, it really comes down to bureaucracy. Just pure red tape.
Mandatory isolation is such an unfair, discriminatory call. You see politicians who didn't have to worry about staying home, even though they were out shaking hands and posing for photos with pro tennis players, only to catch it later through close contact at home. It just doesn't add up.
The whole idea of putting entire classrooms under quarantine feels totally pointless as long as the professors aren't being held to those same standards.

Look, I’m not even going to debate the merits of self-isolation or the virus itself right now... what I find impossible to wrap my head around is how nobody is trying to find a way for these kids to actually complete their work. We had plenty of ways to protect teachers here, but instead, we have someone deciding that having children write assignments is somehow represented by this emoticon 🤮

Drew Johnson2 said:Just imagine some poor, unfortunate soul who ends up stuck in self-isolation for both periods... and then, at the end of it all, they haven't even finished high school. They won't be able to land any job that actually requires a diploma...

And then there's the professor you've looked up to for four years—someone who actually taught you things and tried to shape your character... suddenly, they just don't care. "Listen... I don't give a damn about you. I'm not even going to be in the same room as you. Just re-enroll next year. Take this semester off. You probably spent too much time partying anyway, so enjoy the break."

Sean Stewart said:Some universities don't even follow strict deadlines—it's all that credit-hour bureaucracy and red tape. Sure, a doctor's note carries weight if you're hospitalized or dealing with a chronic condition, but do you honestly think anyone is going to believe a student was sidelined by a sudden bout of stomach flu right before an exam? Nobody's going to admit they couldn't leave the bathroom in time to sit for a test.
I remember being a student myself—I've definitely sat through exams while dealing with a bladder infection, essentially armed with nothing but heavy-duty pads. At many colleges, professors just do whatever they feel like; some might offer a makeup quiz for those who are genuinely ill, but they'll make the questions so impossibly difficult that you'd almost rather stay sick than face them.

As for why the missed flight comparison fails—well, missing a flight can derail your entire life, whereas for some, missing a high school exit exam isn't even a major setback. A huge number of seniors show up to these tests just as a tourist attraction—simply because it's local and free. Most parents, teachers, and principals just nudge them to go through the motions so they don't live with "what ifs" later on.

I agree with the sentiment, but the core issue remains. If a kid who actually has the talent to get into pre-med or speech pathology on their first try loses that shot because of this virus—and because the government is too incompetent to step up—that's a tragedy in itself.

Drew Johnson2 said:I’m asking you because you seem perfectly fine with how this all played out. You’re basically defending a system where a high school senior in a rural town can't even access a site like Reddit without issues—and you don't see any problem with that.
In fact, there's something twisted about you taking pleasure in someone missing their graduation exams just because they were irresponsible... as if being stuck in self-isolation is some kind of choice made while partying in a basement to old country tunes.

I must be losing my mind, honestly.

I honestly can’t wrap my head around anyone suggesting that missing high school graduation exams due to COVID—and consequently losing out on college admissions—is even worth debating.

The government has known about this situation for an entire year now; if we can’t manage to organize testing for these kids, then they should just hand over the reins to a state-appointed manager...

Personally, I believe someone like urbantinker8—if they actually went public with the stance that finding a way to administer these exams isn't a priority or a big deal—should be fired from their institution immediately. It’s no different than a doctor refusing to treat a patient, blaming them for their own illness, and acting like withholding necessary care is just a minor inconvenience.

A teacher is the absolute last person on earth who should even imply that missing a chance at your dream university after years of hard work and planning isn't a massive deal.
This is infinitely worse than those people who just mock education and intelligence in general.

If I were a teacher and knew my school or the state failed to provide a way for a student to take their exams because of COVID or some other issue, I think Oprah would be calling me for an interview all the way from Sussex after hearing from Britney.

Unbelievable!!!

wanderingbadger77 said:If your kid ends up stuck in quarantine along with their whole class, they aren't gonna be testing everyone—only the ones actually showing symptoms.
And you won't be stuck in isolation either since the order was issued for the kid.
Look, the coach needs to act responsibly, but there's no requirement for them to self-isolate if they haven't had direct contact with someone infected.

I never said they were obligated... and honestly, the fact that they aren't is just as nonsensical as everything else regarding this whole isolation mess.
Besides, from here on out, "contact" isn't just any contact—it's contact with someone actually positive.☕
Practices aren't canceled. My little one is going.

wanderingbadger77 said:What’s the point of self-isolating if you're just a contact of a contact?

The kid hasn't even been tested—at least not yet. They share a house, and the coach is interacting with fifty kids every single day... you really don't see the issue there?

My son’s coach is in quarantine, but apparently, he isn't...🤣

Why isn't Trump on the list of offenders?🕺

A sun-bleached orange sack of fleas—or something like that...🤣

Brandon Torres3 said:Alright, thanks.

So, I guess we just carry on as usual until some new info drops.
Gotta be a little more careful, I suppose.

I have no idea how you're supposed to "be careful"—unless I lock my husband in a single room, disinfect the bathroom after he uses it, make him eat in there, and ban him from the living room entirely.

Whatever you say.

Brandon Torres3 said:Alright, I get what you're saying.

But here's the kicker—that "contact" is actually my sister, and we live under the same roof, so things get a little complicated.

It’s not like this was some random coworker or a buddy I can just avoid for a few days; it’s someone I share a home with.

🤔

We’re all left wondering about these things... if it were my husband who was the contact, I don't see the logic in why they wouldn't lock me and the kids down in isolation too, yet that never happens...

Adam Doyle63 said:We just need some space where there are no chains holding us back, allowing us to finally catch our breath.

I'll write up something more detailed tonight.

Look, it's obvious the boss has been playing us since day one🥳—there won't be any issues here, I just haven't figured out the right location yet.

Adam Doyle63, what am I supposed to write?

I haven't really been crunching the numbers on all this—mostly because I'm terrified of what the total will look like once I finally do... plus, with my kid missing soccer practice and school, the math just gets uglier.

Joseph Taylor11 said:They aren't all sane anymore!
I honestly just don't get it—who actually makes the call on behalf of the municipality? Who's being consulted here? Is it the Mayor? The County Headquarters? I'm guessing it's definitely not the citizens. So, what you're telling me is that some groups are allowed to gather while others aren't, and the whole decision is just handed down by a few individuals?
Did I somehow sleep through the part where democracy was officially abolished? Because it feels like every single municipality is back to being run by its own personal version of Franja Tahija.🤔

So, what’s the Supreme Court going to say about this one? Is this actually what the Constitution intended? It feels like blatant discrimination against citizens just because they happen to live in the wrong municipality.

This isn't just pathetic; it’s straight-up embarrassing. And you just know that in a few months, right before the elections, they'll be out there promising us the moon and the stars. For now, though? They're basically laughing in our faces. ☕

So, here we go—the chiefs who actually signed the agreement are stuck in limbo... because County Headquarters is now demanding that these deals be voted on by every single municipality.🤦

People have been asking whether those local municipalities in California actually held their council meetings and went through with the voting...

Then they claim they didn't receive a properly formatted request—only to turn around the next day and argue that the federal headquarters in D.C. hasn't signed off on it... typical.
How could he not have accepted it if you didn't even send it? You haven't even submitted the correct ones...
And who exactly decided I don't have the right to walk around this country wherever I please?
As Edward Fisher86 puts it—now we actually have to vote on whether to merge...🙏

I don't really venture too far outside my own municipality—but when I do, I make sure to check the facts. I’ve got a screenshot from The New York Times stating that for residency purposes, the jurisdiction covers the entire area merged under the County Headquarters...

Joseph Taylor11 said:Just picture the scenario—two cities and three townships all sign on for one unified area, but then the head of the fourth township decides to leave his own citizens completely stranded! He made a solo call: he’s not signing.🙏

So, I’m asking you guys—is there actually any legal ground here to file a lawsuit? Is this territorial discrimination? Are we being penalized just because we were born in the "wrong" township? And how can a single person—or maybe a small group (I’m assuming the local council?)🤔—even make a call like that? What are we dealing with here? Is this America or the Wild West?

It was easy for him to isolate his own people, but folks from Mošćenički Drag and Palm Beach now need a damn pass just to travel to those two locations since they have to cut through Newport.

Apparently, he doesn't want "walkers"—as if half the population isn't already walking around Palm Beach anyway.

My mom, who lives in Mošćenički Drag, practically needs a passport just to hit her bank in Palm Beach or grab gas in Newport, since that's the closest station.

Then there's Santa Barbara—they won't cooperate either, all because of these supposed walkers I've never even seen. Now people can't even shop in peace at Kukuljanov, which is where the main hubs are, simply because Santa Barbara is terrified of some pedestrians.

Has anyone actually heard of people swarming Santa Barbara to go for a stroll??