Second Semester 2020/21 School Year

hiddendriver34 said:I’ve been seeing all these posts about students who are forced to miss their final exams because they're stuck in isolation or quarantine. Honestly, it’s such a massive bummer, and there is absolutely nothing those kids could have done differently to avoid it.

But what about everyone else? You know, the people who have missed out over the last few years—or even this year—because they caught a nasty flu, ended up needing an emergency appendectomy, or were just dealing with debilitating cramps on the big day? Are they somehow at fault? Does that make them somehow less deserving than the kids dealing with COVID? If we can make accommodations for one group, why shouldn't we set up a makeup session for everyone else facing genuine medical emergencies too?

finally 🙏🙏🙏

hiddendriver34 said:I’ve been seeing all these posts about students who are forced to miss their final exams because they're stuck in isolation or quarantine. Honestly, it’s such a massive bummer, and there is absolutely nothing those kids could have done differently to avoid it.

But what about everyone else? You know, the people who have missed out over the last few years—or even this year—because they caught a nasty flu, ended up needing an emergency appendectomy, or were just dealing with debilitating cramps on the big day? Are they somehow at fault? Does that make them somehow less deserving than the kids dealing with COVID? If we can make accommodations for one group, why shouldn't we set up a makeup session for everyone else facing genuine medical emergencies too?

There was a whole swarm of kids heading into those exams with nothing but a raging fever and the chills... personally, I remember sitting through several college midterms while shaking uncontrollably with a high temperature...

if I had stayed home because of it, I probably wouldn't have finished my degree until I was forty...

the only time people actually skipped an exam back then was when they were literally hospitalized...

I know plenty of people, both in high school and later in university, who showed up to write their exams with a broken arm—provided the hand they were writing with was free, of course... and you’d see people rolling into the exam hall on crutches with full leg casts like it was just another Tuesday...

Larry Walker24 said:finally 🙏🙏🙏

That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to get across this whole time—COVID wasn't the first disease ever to hit us. High school graduation, much like many other milestones in life, is designed so you get one shot at it every year, or maybe even less frequently; if someone dies on that specific day, or your bus catches fire on the way to campus—it happens. I once had a bus 62 miles leaving Washington, D.C., on my way into Washington, D.C., and ended up rushing into a last-minute exam; I actually split a taxi with the other passengers just to ensure we all reached our destinations on time. And people have stories—real ones—ranging from waiting a year for a medical specialist to attending child custody hearings...

As for those appalled by the idea of a teacher having the heart to refuse supervising a student who tested positive—after teaching them for four years—well, some people simply value their own health more than their job description.
Not every educator is emotionally tethered to their students—nor should they be—and certainly not every student has earned that level of devotion. Personally, I don't live in fear; I'm fairly certain I could breeze through COVID without a single symptom, but I have elderly parents at home with compromised immune systems. There is absolutely no way I'm letting anyone force me into a three-hour room session with someone who is infectious. Then again, when I was in isolation myself—feeling perfectly fine—I wasn't even allowed to walk to an ATM a block away or ride my bike through the woods where there was nobody else around.
On one hand, the government treats us like bio-terrorists if we move around while infected, yet on the other, that same government won't dare force its employees to spend hours in a room with a sick person, lest they be labeled a person or accused of being heartless.

I'm not suggesting seniors should be under house arrest before graduation, but if they avoid massive gatherings, the likelihood of someone reporting them as a contact is slim to none.

Or perhaps the best move is for everyone to just catch it preventatively now, so they're safe by June 😁 😁. How did this brilliant strategy escape everyone's notice until now 😁 😁?

nimbleranger17 said:There was a whole swarm of kids heading into those exams with nothing but a raging fever and the chills... personally, I remember sitting through several college midterms while shaking uncontrollably with a high temperature...

if I had stayed home because of it, I probably wouldn't have finished my degree until I was forty...

the only time people actually skipped an exam back then was when they were literally hospitalized...

I know plenty of people, both in high school and later in university, who showed up to write their exams with a broken arm—provided the hand they were writing with was free, of course... and you’d see people rolling into the exam hall on crutches with full leg casts like it was just another Tuesday...

So what you're saying is, unless it's COVID, there's basically no excuse to miss a final exam?

I haven't seen anyone like that. People show up with casts or runny noses, sure, but I've never seen someone showing up sick and shivering. If you've got the flu, you can barely make it to the bathroom, let alone sit through a big exam!
And honestly, in every single semester, there are always one or two students missing from every classroom. For all sorts of reasons, and being sick is definitely one of them.

So I'll ask again: what happens to those students?

It’s become this bizarre, wearying ritual where students roll up to their most critical finals or high school graduation exams clutching a box of tissues and nursing a nasty flu. They basically just pop a few Advil or Tylenol to numb the misery enough to function, scrape through the exam, and then retreat immediately back to their beds.

I mean, let's be honest—before the pandemic shifted everything, the only legitimate reason anyone skipped a MAJOR exam was if they were actually hospitalized... or if they were fighting some devastating, life-altering illness at home.

Whether they can pull it off or not is entirely their business... but this feels different, doesn't it? For the first time, someone is actually being barred from showing up. It reminds me of a close friend of mine back in 2002; she ended up signing those papers to discharge herself from the hospital against medical advice, simply because she refused to sit through one more intake interview.

nimbleranger17 said:People would just power through with the flu to make it to their big finals or SATs. They’d just pop some Advil, try to pull themselves together, knock out the test, and head home.

Look, before COVID hit, the only reason someone skipped a MAJOR exam was if they were actually hospitalized... or dealing with something heavy like cancer at home.

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." 😉

Pamela said:I suppose if people want to act outraged because a teacher might not have the heart to supervise a student they’ve taught for four years, well, maybe some folks just value their own health more than their job description.
Not everyone forms an emotional bond with their students, and honestly, I don't think they necessarily should, nor have all students actually earned that kind of connection.
...
On one hand, the government tries to convince us we're basically bio-terrorists if we drive around during a lockdown, yet on the other hand, there's no way this same government is going to stop someone from forcing employees to spend hours stuck in a small room with a sick person, otherwise, apparently, they're being cold-hearted or just plain Pamela.

Bravo!🙏🙏

It sounds paradoxical, believe it or not, but if my entire faculty lounge were hauled before a judge and forced to volunteer to sit in a cramped cafeteria for six hours with someone in isolation, I guess I would be the first to raise my hand without hesitation.
It isn't because I think some high school graduation is the most important event in the universe or that the whole world needs to halt everything and sacrifice itself—even at the cost of needing a ventilator—but rather, in the midst of this messy, illogical situation of coercion and mandates, I'd probably face less risk of catching something or passing away alongside older colleagues nearing retirement, or those dealing with autoimmune issues or recovering from cancer.
So, I guess I'd do it purely out of professional solidarity, rather than any pedagogical sentiment.
Though, I really do hope the Department of Education shows even a shred of realism and sobriety during my career and doesn't just throw its "subordinates" under the bus.

Isn't the idea of spreading a potential infection something that already borders on criminal law?🤔

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." 😉

After twenty years in the education system (elementary, high school, and college)

I have been surrounded by thousands of students over those two decades.

That is my lived experience, along with the experiences of many others I know.

When it comes to the big ones—the exams that determine whether you pass a grade or, say, nail the SATs—people showed up even with a fever of 104 or 105...
They pushed through whatever ailment they had because these are the milestones that dictate the trajectory of your entire year, if not the next five to ten years of your life...

nimbleranger17 said:After twenty years in the education system (elementary, high school, and college)

I have been surrounded by thousands of students over those two decades.

That is my lived experience, along with the experiences of many others I know.

When it comes to the big ones—the exams that determine whether you pass a grade or, say, nail the SATs—people showed up even with a fever of 104 or 105...
They pushed through whatever ailment they had because these are the milestones that dictate the trajectory of your entire year, if not the next five to ten years of your life...

...but what if that random illness ends up costing someone more than just a few years, but maybe their entire life?

The very definition of altruism, I guess.🙂🙏

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.

Amanda Hughes37 said: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.

??? Good grief..

Yeah, sure, you could even take the exam at home while you're recovering in a hospital.
Everything is possible if you actually bother to organize it ahead of time.
Obviously, you can't just call them up on the morning of the test and say, "Hey, I'm staying home today."
I knew this one kid last year who had gallbladder surgery and was recovering at his house.
He took the whole exam right there in his bedroom. The only rule was that nobody in the house could walk in and it had to be dead silent. Two proctors showed up, taped a sign on the door saying "State Exam—Do Not Disturb!"🤣 and followed every single protocol to the letter.
Masks, six feet apart, the whole bit.

Look, let’s just be honest—Meta shouldn't be trying to act like they're launching rockets to Mars. It would be much more decent if they just admitted they don't actually care and have zero intention of doing it. That might be a bit more transparent, I guess.

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Amanda Hughes37 said: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.

Everyone is fighting for those top-tier schools. Some get in, have a great time, and graduate successfully. Others get in, realize after freshman year that it's not their vibe, and pivot to something completely different. Then there are the ones who don't enroll at all for various reasons—maybe they missed an exam due to illness, or maybe they just fell a few points short of the cutoff. Some find their true calling in a second choice, while others spend a year regrouping and then try again for their original dream. Or, some decide to skip college entirely for a year to work as an au pair in England (and then they fall in love and stay there!). Or they just spend the whole year hitting the books. (I know people who fit every single one of these scenarios.) Life is a million different combinations, and you never really know where the road leads.
What I'm trying to say is that missing a year of college because you got sick isn't some massive life tragedy. It’s sad, sure, and it feels incredibly unfair—and to the kid going through it, it might feel like the end of the world. But it really isn't. Parents need to be the smart ones here and step up to help convince their kids of that.

William Nelson4 said:??? Good grief..

Yeah, sure, you could even take the exam at home while you're recovering in a hospital.
Everything is possible if you actually bother to organize it ahead of time.
Obviously, you can't just call them up on the morning of the test and say, "Hey, I'm staying home today."
I knew this one kid last year who had gallbladder surgery and was recovering at his house.
He took the whole exam right there in his bedroom. The only rule was that nobody in the house could walk in and it had to be dead silent. Two proctors showed up, taped a sign on the door saying "State Exam—Do Not Disturb!"🤣 and followed every single protocol to the letter.
Masks, six feet apart, the whole bit.

Sorry, I must be a bit slow—are you pulling my leg?

William Nelson4 said:??? Good grief..

Yeah, sure, you could even take the exam at home while you're recovering in a hospital.
Everything is possible if you actually bother to organize it ahead of time.
Obviously, you can't just call them up on the morning of the test and say, "Hey, I'm staying home today."
I knew this one kid last year who had gallbladder surgery and was recovering at his house.
He took the whole exam right there in his bedroom. The only rule was that nobody in the house could walk in and it had to be dead silent. Two proctors showed up, taped a sign on the door saying "State Exam—Do Not Disturb!"🤣 and followed every single protocol to the letter.
Masks, six feet apart, the whole bit.

And let's be honest, I don't expect urbantinker8 to come trekking out to some sick student's house; that's hardly in her job description, given she isn't exactly known for her deep concern for the youth or their bright futures...

hiddendriver34 said:Everyone is fighting for those top-tier schools. Some get in, have a great time, and graduate successfully. Others get in, realize after freshman year that it's not their vibe, and pivot to something completely different. Then there are the ones who don't enroll at all for various reasons—maybe they missed an exam due to illness, or maybe they just fell a few points short of the cutoff. Some find their true calling in a second choice, while others spend a year regrouping and then try again for their original dream. Or, some decide to skip college entirely for a year to work as an au pair in England (and then they fall in love and stay there!). Or they just spend the whole year hitting the books. (I know people who fit every single one of these scenarios.) Life is a million different combinations, and you never really know where the road leads.
What I'm trying to say is that missing a year of college because you got sick isn't some massive life tragedy. It’s sad, sure, and it feels incredibly unfair—and to the kid going through it, it might feel like the end of the world. But it really isn't. Parents need to be the smart ones here and step up to help convince their kids of that.

Sorry, I must be a bit slow—are you pulling my leg?

🤣

Just Google "SAT administration guidelines during the pandemic." There's a section on "testing from home," and it even mentions testing in a hospital.

nimbleranger17 said:And let's be honest, I don't expect urbantinker8 to come trekking out to some sick student's house; that's hardly in her job description, given she isn't exactly known for her deep concern for the youth or their bright futures...

Look, she will if the principal tells her to, but for now, thank God and the common sense of the CDC, that rule only applies to super rare cases. It definitely DOES NOT apply to students who tested positive for COVID-19. Those kids are in ISOLATION. No exceptions. They just have to wait for the fall testing session.
It sucks, but life sucks.

hiddendriver34 said:Everyone is fighting for those top-tier schools. Some get in, have a great time, and graduate successfully. Others get in, realize after freshman year that it's not their vibe, and pivot to something completely different. Then there are the ones who don't enroll at all for various reasons—maybe they missed an exam due to illness, or maybe they just fell a few points short of the cutoff. Some find their true calling in a second choice, while others spend a year regrouping and then try again for their original dream. Or, some decide to skip college entirely for a year to work as an au pair in England (and then they fall in love and stay there!). Or they just spend the whole year hitting the books. (I know people who fit every single one of these scenarios.) Life is a million different combinations, and you never really know where the road leads.
What I'm trying to say is that missing a year of college because you got sick isn't some massive life tragedy. It’s sad, sure, and it feels incredibly unfair—and to the kid going through it, it might feel like the end of the world. But it really isn't. Parents need to be the smart ones here and step up to help convince their kids of that.

Sorry, I must be a bit slow—are you pulling my leg?

There's no need—at least not from me right now—to lecture everyone on how life is unpredictable and that the SAT is just one day in a long existence.
The reality is simple... the SAT and university admissions are structured such that if you don't enroll during your freshman year, you could lose the chance to attend your preferred school.
Every stakeholder involved needs to do everything within their power to accommodate anyone who wants to take the exam during this window—regardless of location—and actually solve the problem.
There are always a limited number of such students; even if many are ill, not everyone is desperate to hit a specific deadline. But for those who refuse to miss out, we should make it possible for them to participate.

I’m seeing a lot of skepticism regarding taking the SAT outside of the main testing centers.

Taking exams at home. During home-based SAT administration, the proctors arriving at the
test-taker's residence wear surgical masks and hand sanitizer, maintaining a 2-meter distance from other
household members and the student. If the student is immunocompromised, the proctors conducting the
SAT at the home will also wear disposable gloves in addition to masks. The student himself
follows the recommendations of the specialist physician managing his primary condition. Taking the SAT
in a hospital setting follows the specific protocols of that facility.

hiddendriver34 said:Everyone is fighting for those top-tier schools. Some get in, have a great time, and graduate successfully. Others get in, realize after freshman year that it's not their vibe, and pivot to something completely different. Then there are the ones who don't enroll at all for various reasons—maybe they missed an exam due to illness, or maybe they just fell a few points short of the cutoff. Some find their true calling in a second choice, while others spend a year regrouping and then try again for their original dream. Or, some decide to skip college entirely for a year to work as an au pair in England (and then they fall in love and stay there!). Or they just spend the whole year hitting the books. (I know people who fit every single one of these scenarios.) Life is a million different combinations, and you never really know where the road leads.
What I'm trying to say is that missing a year of college because you got sick isn't some massive life tragedy. It’s sad, sure, and it feels incredibly unfair—and to the kid going through it, it might feel like the end of the world. But it really isn't. Parents need to be the smart ones here and step up to help convince their kids of that.

Sorry, I must be a bit slow—are you pulling my leg?

If someone is just sitting in isolation, they aren't necessarily "sick." Testing positive on a PCR test doesn't mean you're incapacitated; most of the time, you aren't even symptomatic. Claiming that it's a valid reason to miss an entire academic year—which, let's be honest, requires a much more substantial reason than this—is total nonsense. Honestly, teachers who push this logic should be facing dismissal.

nimbleranger17 said:And let's be honest, I don't expect urbantinker8 to come trekking out to some sick student's house; that's hardly in her job description, given she isn't exactly known for her deep concern for the youth or their bright futures...

It’s common knowledge that students exist merely to provide teachers with a paycheck (not necessarily a "job," since a real job actually implies working).

Look, I’m all for ensuring those suffering from COVID-19 receive the same official recognition and support that people dealing with any other infectious disease have had over the last decade.

But comparing students stuck in isolation to kids who happen to be sick with something else on exam day? Honestly—it’s just pathological. As far as I can tell, we don't bar an entire class from taking their SATs just because someone is dealing with PMS, a stomach bug, or a broken arm.

If it weren't for the fact that this would end up punishing children who aren't even responsible for their parents' sheer stupidity—to everyone who is so dismissively waving a hand and saying, "so what? missing a year is no big deal, why the fuss?"—I would truly love to see you experience this exact situation with your own child. Since I am not (quite 😁) such a malicious person, I genuinely want these kids to have every advantage and every possible success.