Second Semester 2020/21 School Year

Quincy Adams said:Someone who spends their isolation period labeling the sick should probably have their professional credentials revoked.

If people were permitted to leave their homes during quarantine simply because they felt like it, why on earth is it suddenly an insurmountable obstacle to sit for the SATs with a negative test result? If the public school teachers are spiraling into such a frantic panic, why don't we just have healthcare workers or paid volunteers look after the kids? For heaven's sake, it isn't as if supervising a standardized exam requires the structural complexity of engineering an intergalactic spacecraft...

Exactly.
To deny a child who has spent years grinding and studying the chance to take their exams just because of a quarantine period is nothing short of utter nonsense—it’s a blatant form of discrimination.
And no, it is absolutely not the same thing to just "try again next year" for your preferred university; that shouldn't even be a point of debate. Not everyone has an extra year to spare, nor do they all possess the nerves, the cash, or the patience to rot at home just because they were barred from a single day of testing.
If we treat this like a pandemic for children, then we must treat schools and universities with the same logic: they need to step up and organize. Schools should implement makeup exam dates, and colleges should push back enrollment until every interested student has had the opportunity to apply.
But no, we are powerless, because "it's a pandemic."

I graduated and started college right in the middle of a war zone, and I certainly don't recall anyone making a massive scene or refusing to hold graduation exams just because there was a legitimate risk of being shot at.
I also clearly remember two of our professors showing up to proctor our exams straight from the battlefield.
The truth is, when there is actual will, there is always a way.

urbantinker8 said:How many freaking extensions would it take to actually make you happy? I don't even know anymore.🍿
Every single week all summer long? Man, I don't know. Maybe. Seems like a lot.
How many enrollment rounds should there even be for med school? Or like, when exactly does the enrollment process actually wrap up? I mean, you have to factor in the Meta exams being graded before they can even finish the final rankings for a specific school, right?
How am I even supposed to coordinate all these totally isolated groups that only share like three mandatory classes on Meta? And who even knows what electives they're taking? It's a mess.
Honestly, how are you even supposed to coordinate all those makeup exams with everyone's schedules in a four-year vocational program? It’s a total nightmare. Trying to sync up all those individual students and their specific credit requirements with the final exam block... I don't know, man. It feels like a massive logistical headache that nobody actually has a plan for. Maybe it's possible, but I guess we'll just see how much of a mess it turns into.

Honestly, you just don't get how much of a massive logistical nightmare this whole thing is from an organizational standpoint. It's a huge undertaking, I guess... maybe you just haven't realized how heavy that lift actually is.

Don't even sweat it. You're basically arguing with someone who clearly has zero clue how things actually work. I guess they seriously think you just list three to five items and call it a day. Whatever.
To all you guys shouting "just give them an interim period"—honestly, take a look at the calendar.

So, I just saw the update on the fall exam schedule for the university. Looks like they finally dropped the dates. If you're still trying to scrape together enough credit hours to stay afloat, now’s the time to start panicking—or at least looking at your calendar. Just a heads up for anyone currently drowning in coursework: check the deadlines before you miss your window and end up stuck waiting until next semester. Typical, right? Everything always feels like a last-minute scramble.

Even if we just ignore the fact that the whole thing needs to be drained and fixed... 🥱So, I was just wondering... how many individual combinations would we actually be looking at for every single student in high school who ends up writing during midterms? Just curious.
So, basically, there are 3 mandatory classes and then up to 6 electives. That means a student could end up taking as many as 9 total. I guess. Maybe.
How many different versions of an exam are we talking about here? You gotta draft 'em, print 'em, hand 'em out, grade 'em... then just sit around waiting for the appeal window to close, wait for the final grades to actually post, and *then* you can even start thinking about applying and getting ranked for your major while following all those ridiculous bureaucratic rules? Seriously? ("Just put everything in one week," my ass.)🤦)

Look, urbantinker8, I'm totally in your corner. Don't let it get to you, seriously.

So, my son—he's in high school now—and his whole class have ended up in the ICU for the third freaking time.
I mean, I’m pretty sure most counties are gonna flip back to remote work starting March 29th. Not that I’m exactly throwing a party about it—honestly, it's kind of the opposite—but you just have to look around at how everything is going. You can see where this is all heading, I guess.
Sucks, I guess.

urbantinker8 said:it’s called S-E-L-F-I-S-H-N-E-S-S.
enough common sense for most people.
who’s right, who’s wrong... it's subjective, I suppose.
anyone who actually gives a damn should probably just stay away from risky situations.

There is an actual protocol in place regarding when people from neighboring states can leave, work, or move around normally—it’s just a matter of staying under heightened supervision. I mean, I doubt Meta would be bothering to post updates if we were talking about kids with 102-degree fevers and hacking coughs; we’re talking about healthy children here.

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mellowskipper said:There is an actual protocol in place regarding when people from neighboring states can leave, work, or move around normally—it’s just a matter of staying under heightened supervision. I mean, I doubt Meta would be bothering to post updates if we were talking about kids with 102-degree fevers and hacking coughs; we’re talking about healthy children here.

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???
Just read the guidelines on the CDC website; they even have a condensed version in a flyer format.
There is zero mention of "normal" movement.
Unless it's an absolute emergency, you aren't leaving the house.
No walks, no heading to work or school, no hanging out or inviting people over... just read the damn thing.

And where exactly are you seeing this "strict supervision" thing? Let us know so we can tell our kids, "Hey, since you're in isolation, you can basically do whatever you want, just stay under 'strict supervision' or whatever."
My son was supposed to have practice and hit the barber today... we had to cancel everything. ☕ Are we being sheep or just responsible?
Edit: and he's gonna miss a buddy's birthday too..

Honestly, skipping your hair appointment is essentially the same level of catastrophe as failing your SATs...

Lord Byron said:Maybe someone who is stuck in self-isolation calling sick people unfit for work should probably have their professional credentials revoked.

People in isolation are potentially sick and contagious, I suppose.
And honestly, if you don't grasp that, you might not be the sharpest tool in the shed.

Morgan Peterson said:Exactly.
To deny a child who has spent years grinding and studying the chance to take their exams just because of a quarantine period is nothing short of utter nonsense—it’s a blatant form of discrimination.
And no, it is absolutely not the same thing to just "try again next year" for your preferred university; that shouldn't even be a point of debate. Not everyone has an extra year to spare, nor do they all possess the nerves, the cash, or the patience to rot at home just because they were barred from a single day of testing.
If we treat this like a pandemic for children, then we must treat schools and universities with the same logic: they need to step up and organize. Schools should implement makeup exam dates, and colleges should push back enrollment until every interested student has had the opportunity to apply.
But no, we are powerless, because "it's a pandemic."

I graduated and started college right in the middle of a war zone, and I certainly don't recall anyone making a massive scene or refusing to hold graduation exams just because there was a legitimate risk of being shot at.
I also clearly remember two of our professors showing up to proctor our exams straight from the battlefield.
The truth is, when there is actual will, there is always a way.

But then again, there's also a massive level of discrimination in knowingly exposing everyone who comes in contact with a student—who just absolutely has to test on that specific day or never again—to a potential infection.
What if that student actually is infected and passes it to the teachers proctoring them, and suddenly those teachers end up in a COVID ward at a local hospital?
I guess nobody cares about that, right? As long as they get into their chosen major.🤦
Would you think it was okay if teachers, who are also supposed to be isolating, had to spend hours proctoring students during finals? Like, just "well, if someone gets sick, they get sick"? Because apparently, it's too much trouble to take sick leave and risk a pay cut from the district.🕺
Let's not talk nonsense; just look out for yourselves and your kids in the weeks leading up to graduation. It shouldn't be that difficult to manage.

William Nelson4 said:Don't even sweat it. You're basically arguing with someone who clearly has zero clue how things actually work. I guess they seriously think you just list three to five items and call it a day. Whatever.
To all you guys shouting "just give them an interim period"—honestly, take a look at the calendar.

So, I just saw the update on the fall exam schedule for the university. Looks like they finally dropped the dates. If you're still trying to scrape together enough credit hours to stay afloat, now’s the time to start panicking—or at least looking at your calendar. Just a heads up for anyone currently drowning in coursework: check the deadlines before you miss your window and end up stuck waiting until next semester. Typical, right? Everything always feels like a last-minute scramble.

Even if we just ignore the fact that the whole thing needs to be drained and fixed... 🥱So, I was just wondering... how many individual combinations would we actually be looking at for every single student in high school who ends up writing during midterms? Just curious.
So, basically, there are 3 mandatory classes and then up to 6 electives. That means a student could end up taking as many as 9 total. I guess. Maybe.
How many different versions of an exam are we talking about here? You gotta draft 'em, print 'em, hand 'em out, grade 'em... then just sit around waiting for the appeal window to close, wait for the final grades to actually post, and *then* you can even start thinking about applying and getting ranked for your major while following all those ridiculous bureaucratic rules? Seriously? ("Just put everything in one week," my ass.)🤦)

Look, urbantinker8, I'm totally in your corner. Don't let it get to you, seriously.

So, my son—he's in high school now—and his whole class have ended up in the ICU for the third freaking time.
I mean, I’m pretty sure most counties are gonna flip back to remote work starting March 29th. Not that I’m exactly throwing a party about it—honestly, it's kind of the opposite—but you just have to look around at how everything is going. You can see where this is all heading, I guess.
Sucks, I guess.

👍

mellowskipper said:There is an actual protocol in place regarding when people from neighboring states can leave, work, or move around normally—it’s just a matter of staying under heightened supervision. I mean, I doubt Meta would be bothering to post updates if we were talking about kids with 102-degree fevers and hacking coughs; we’re talking about healthy children here.

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Let me say it one more time: nobody is being told to undergo self-isolation because they aren't at any risk of getting infected or falling ill.
I mean, would you honestly feel okay with people just going about their business and hanging out with children while they are supposed to be in isolation?
(Since you work in healthcare, I find it hard to believe you’d actually advocate for people in isolation having "normal movement."😲)

William Nelson4 said:???
Just read the guidelines on the CDC website; they even have a condensed version in a flyer format.
There is zero mention of "normal" movement.
Unless it's an absolute emergency, you aren't leaving the house.
No walks, no heading to work or school, no hanging out or inviting people over... just read the damn thing.

And where exactly are you seeing this "strict supervision" thing? Let us know so we can tell our kids, "Hey, since you're in isolation, you can basically do whatever you want, just stay under 'strict supervision' or whatever."
My son was supposed to have practice and hit the barber today... we had to cancel everything. ☕ Are we being sheep or just responsible?
Edit: and he's gonna miss a buddy's birthday too..

Exactly.
I suppose an "absolute emergency" probably doesn't include wandering out three or four times a day to attend a graduation ceremony.

QUOTE=Drew Johnson2;85317689]Missing a hair appointment is basically the same thing as skipping your high school finals.

Yeah, no. Not even close.
There’s still zero official "protocol" for students who end up getting sick or stuck in intensive care right when exams roll around.
Right now, there's just the standard procedure for ICU patients that applies to everyone.
If they actually decide to change things, the school will just follow whatever instructions they get.
It's not like some principal is just gonna wing it and make their own rules.

And what exactly would be the issue with the protocol if we simply had those students use a dedicated entrance to access a separate area, where they could work under the supervision of someone who actually has antibodies and isn't at any risk...

Drew Johnson2 said:Honestly, skipping your hair appointment is essentially the same level of catastrophe as failing your SATs...

And you can clearly see how 🤣

I find it pretty interesting how they handle things. When a student tests positive in a classroom, the teacher doesn't even step foot inside—at least not for 48 hours, which is what the CDC guidelines suggest should happen. They cite masks, open windows, and social distancing as reasons. But then, if it’s a student who was just told to self-isolate because they tested negative, that same teacher wouldn't be allowed to stand near them either, even at a much greater distance.
Looking back at some posts from October 2020, teachers were constantly working in rooms where at least one person was infected, all while walking through hallways filled with crowds of people. I honestly don't see the difference between that and protecting a healthy student who has been ordered to stay home. 🤔
All this is just going to make people overthink every single interaction. By May 25th, we're probably going to have a massive group of graduates who have moved out into their own apartments just to avoid contact. 🤣

Drew Johnson2 said:And what exactly would be the issue with the protocol if we simply had those students use a dedicated entrance to access a separate area, where they could work under the supervision of someone who actually has antibodies and isn't at any risk...

Well, I suppose there are a few hurdles, maybe. For one, there might not be enough "dedicated rooms," or perhaps the school doesn't even have a "separate entrance" to begin with. Then there's the matter of how many of these students there actually are—it could be a significant number. Plus, I wonder if there are even enough staff members available to supervise them across all three to nine SAT sessions, not to mention how many students fall into this category. And honestly, I can't help but wonder who is supposed to foot the bill for antibody testing for entire faculty departments across the whole country just to figure out who the lucky winners are?

Susan James said:And you can clearly see how 🤣

I find it pretty interesting how they handle things. When a student tests positive in a classroom, the teacher doesn't even step foot inside—at least not for 48 hours, which is what the CDC guidelines suggest should happen. They cite masks, open windows, and social distancing as reasons. But then, if it’s a student who was just told to self-isolate because they tested negative, that same teacher wouldn't be allowed to stand near them either, even at a much greater distance.
Looking back at some posts from October 2020, teachers were constantly working in rooms where at least one person was infected, all while walking through hallways filled with crowds of people. I honestly don't see the difference between that and protecting a healthy student who has been ordered to stay home. 🤔
All this is just going to make people overthink every single interaction. By May 25th, we're probably going to have a massive group of graduates who have moved out into their own apartments just to avoid contact. 🤣

well, here we go again with the stalking behavior, how sweet🙂

I hope you realize that professors don't actually have the authority to just mandate self-isolation whenever a student tests positive, and I guess that specific scenario doesn't really hold much water compared to a situation involving intentional, conscious contact with someone who is required to isolate but still has to show up for an exam no matter what.
if that's still not clicking for you, maybe we should go back to the basics of addition and subtraction.🕺

urbantinker8 said:Well, I suppose there are a few hurdles, maybe. For one, there might not be enough "dedicated rooms," or perhaps the school doesn't even have a "separate entrance" to begin with. Then there's the matter of how many of these students there actually are—it could be a significant number. Plus, I wonder if there are even enough staff members available to supervise them across all three to nine SAT sessions, not to mention how many students fall into this category. And honestly, I can't help but wonder who is supposed to foot the bill for antibody testing for entire faculty departments across the whole country just to figure out who the lucky winners are?

Since there isn't sufficient space, does that mean they don't necessarily have to sit for the exam at that specific high school?
Let the Department of Education pick up the tab; honestly, what's the issue? Besides, if someone has recovered within a three-month window, they're generally considered immune from getting sick again. Given the supposed tidal wave of COVID sweeping through schools lately, I highly doubt they could even find a single teacher left without antibodies...
If they truly can't find anyone, I’d be more than happy to volunteer my services free of charge. I don't work in a school setting, but I do hold a teaching degree, so I imagine I could grasp the protocols quite easily...

Drew Johnson2 said:And what exactly would be the issue with the protocol if we simply had those students use a dedicated entrance to access a separate area, where they could work under the supervision of someone who actually has antibodies and isn't at any risk...

Personally, I don't see the issue. It’ll probably end up being handled that way anyway—more spacing, maybe just a handful of kids in a dedicated classroom in Chicago. If they take the CTA to get to school, that's on them. The epidemiologists write the rules, not me.

I'm honestly just sitting here waiting for some official link that says you can "live your life normally in quarantine, just with extra precautions," or whatever that one user was rambling about above.
The whole thing sounds like total nonsense to me.
And this kind of stuff could end up costing people a fortune, or worse, someone accidentally ends up in the crosshairs of someone in isolation because they were nearby. But hey, people love to interpret safety guidelines however they feel like it, especially on a public forum.
If someone finds a link that proves me wrong, fine, I'll eat my words.

How exactly do you envision this working???

I mean, where would the world even be if mere mortals were tasked with guarding state exam papers? Do you actually realize just how many years of experience it takes to handle such a sophisticated undertaking?

Drew Johnson2 said:Since there isn't sufficient space, does that mean they don't necessarily have to sit for the exam at that specific high school?
Let the Department of Education pick up the tab; honestly, what's the issue? Besides, if someone has recovered within a three-month window, they're generally considered immune from getting sick again. Given the supposed tidal wave of COVID sweeping through schools lately, I highly doubt they could even find a single teacher left without antibodies...
If they truly can't find anyone, I’d be more than happy to volunteer my services free of charge. I don't work in a school setting, but I do hold a teaching degree, so I imagine I could grasp the protocols quite easily...

God, you all are just so sweet, offering to pull proctoring duty like that.🤣🤣
Look, just send them an email to the district office, maybe they'll actually take you up on it.👍
And as for this talk about compensation, there isn't any pay involved, neither for the required staff nor for the volunteers.
It’s perfectly logical that there aren't enough rooms because, just to give you some context, besides the standard exams, schools also have to run "extended testing" for students with individualized learning plans. For instance, during a language exam, every one of those kids needs their own separate classroom. Usually, there are somewhere between 10 and 15 of them per grade level, sometimes more, which means you have to set aside 10 to 15 classrooms and assign 20 to 30 proctors just for them.😉
And when you consider there might be 150, 200, or even 300 students in a single grade, and everyone is testing at once...😁
That's how it works in every school, leaving absolutely zero room to host students from other districts—especially not in a place like Los Angeles, where half the schools are still dealing with structural issues from past disasters.
So, by all means, feel free to go ahead and organize it.🍿

My mother was recently in touch with the CDC, and she actually took the liberty of asking one of their epidemiologists what the protocol would be if she started showing symptoms; apparently, she’d be required to travel all the way out to a remote town like 16 miles just to get tested, which presents quite a dilemma since she doesn't drive... The specialist advised her that taking a Greyhound bus might be an option, provided she wears two masks simultaneously and attempts to find a vacant corner of the bus far from any other passengers—and, of course, she must carry a doctor's note confirming the referral to ensure she isn't intercepted by authorities along the way.

If such a convoluted ordeal is considered feasible, then I suppose even passing the SATs should be a breeze...

urbantinker8 said:God, you all are just so sweet, offering to pull proctoring duty like that.🤣🤣
Look, just send them an email to the district office, maybe they'll actually take you up on it.👍
And as for this talk about compensation, there isn't any pay involved, neither for the required staff nor for the volunteers.
It’s perfectly logical that there aren't enough rooms because, just to give you some context, besides the standard exams, schools also have to run "extended testing" for students with individualized learning plans. For instance, during a language exam, every one of those kids needs their own separate classroom. Usually, there are somewhere between 10 and 15 of them per grade level, sometimes more, which means you have to set aside 10 to 15 classrooms and assign 20 to 30 proctors just for them.😉
And when you consider there might be 150, 200, or even 300 students in a single grade, and everyone is testing at once...😁
That's how it works in every school, leaving absolutely zero room to host students from other districts—especially not in a place like Los Angeles, where half the schools are still dealing with structural issues from past disasters.
So, by all means, feel free to go ahead and organize it.🍿

And there simply aren't any elementary schools available, nor are there municipal spaces that could be repurposed for this purpose for those few days.
It seems there are nothing but problems and absolutely zero solutions... quite typical, really.

Drew Johnson2 said:Since there isn't sufficient space, does that mean they don't necessarily have to sit for the exam at that specific high school?
Let the Department of Education pick up the tab; honestly, what's the issue? Besides, if someone has recovered within a three-month window, they're generally considered immune from getting sick again. Given the supposed tidal wave of COVID sweeping through schools lately, I highly doubt they could even find a single teacher left without antibodies...
If they truly can't find anyone, I’d be more than happy to volunteer my services free of charge. I don't work in a school setting, but I do hold a teaching degree, so I imagine I could grasp the protocols quite easily...

Go ahead, throw your name out there.
Last year, FEMA made this decision right around graduation time that they could pull people from other agencies "as needed" to help run exams—I definitely remember the local elementary schools and preschools mentioning it.

And regarding that provocation from Nicholas King: just sitting in a classroom during an exam isn't rocket science. Honestly, anyone with an average IQ- could handle it.

Drew Johnson2 said:My mother was recently in touch with the CDC, and she actually took the liberty of asking one of their epidemiologists what the protocol would be if she started showing symptoms; apparently, she’d be required to travel all the way out to a remote town like 16 miles just to get tested, which presents quite a dilemma since she doesn't drive... The specialist advised her that taking a Greyhound bus might be an option, provided she wears two masks simultaneously and attempts to find a vacant corner of the bus far from any other passengers—and, of course, she must carry a doctor's note confirming the referral to ensure she isn't intercepted by authorities along the way.

If such a convoluted ordeal is considered feasible, then I suppose even passing the SATs should be a breeze...

It's absolute nonsense, really.🤦
I'm just hoping someone in her inner circle ended up giving her a lift to the testing site in a private car instead.

William Nelson4 said:Go ahead, throw your name out there.
Last year, FEMA made this decision right around graduation time that they could pull people from other agencies "as needed" to help run exams—I definitely remember the local elementary schools and preschools mentioning it.

And regarding that provocation from Nicholas King: just sitting in a classroom during an exam isn't rocket science. Honestly, anyone with an average IQ- could handle it.

That sounds great, I'm in. I've got enough antibodies to last two lifetimes, so I'm not particularly worried about the risks...
I'll get in touch with the local emergency management office and let you know exactly what they have to say about it.