Final Exams

You thought Common Core tests were bad?  Listen to this:  Monday afternoon I was told to report to the gym, which had been converted to a testing center.  It was a huge cavernous facility, big enough to house a football field, or about 6 basketball courts side by side.  (But there were no basketball hoops hanging from the ceiling). The barren tables were set up 40 rows across and 15 down.  My writing class was assigned row #18.

Other proctors passed out the exam papers and answer sheets.  Then the students proceeded to write test essays for the next 2 1/2 hours.  Yes it was cold, January after all, so everyone was bundled up in their coats.  We teachers wandered up and down the aisles, making the students nervous, and observing their efforts.  One student was caught cheating with a cell phone--possible grounds for dismissal.  It was a cold, sterile environment.

I wanted to write a memoir on my cell phone but was told to put it away as there were cameras watching on the wall.  I nearly went nuts for 2-1/2 hours--no reading a book even.  I could have crocheted a whole hot pad!  Some students finished early and left, but about half were still writing (in black ink, no less) when time was up.  The professors swooped down the rows, grabbed up the answer sheets, and voila!  Everyone is finished.

Now I get to grade them, and poor Tim has over 200 essay exams with his combined classes.  When the Dept. head handed them to Tim she said, "I'm worried you cannot finish grading these in a week". (Duh!). She's allowing him 10 days.  So generous.  I guess I'll be helping.

On a side note, I previously assigned a project to my Culture students.  Each chose an American city and wrote a brochure or 2-sided flyer about important sites and famous landmarks for that city, complete with pictures and captions.  I gathered them all into a booklet for each class.  When I showed them to the Dept. chairman she was astounded.  She couldn't believe the students did such excellent work--publication worthy. She was absolutely amazed.  Obviously they are not project-based with assessment.  Only see how long the students  can survive a long, boring writing exam with no breaks.

Next week these culture students take a 100-point exam written by yours truly.  The class was finished on Dec. 1, but no, I couldn't give the test until the appointed time during final testing weeks. It has true/false, multiple choice, and matching questions along with some short essays.  Yes they do these by hand and I grade them by hand.  No such thing as a scantron answer sheets!