For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for November 04, 2020

why indeed, Ms. Edwards

I get that all the time. I tell my students if they had paid attention they’d know the answers to the question on their test. I tend to give them the test anyway just for them to see how little they retained. Then I reteach and they did better on the second test and I simply graded them on their second test.

An educator’s work is never done

a lesson I learned early on.. always be ready for a test.. regardless

The terror of the pop quiz!

And they all shouted that out in perfect chorus too. Drama class or glee club?

Genesis of the adult nightmare …. you are back in HS, you haven’t studied for a test, you can’t even find the classroom, and you may not be wearing clothing.

You’ve had time to goover them! Come on!

Ah, yes…back in the day….the POP QUIZ. Some things never change.

One teacher gives in and this goes on forever.

Hormones.

Get quiet, and get out your pencil and paper.

Is this really a thing?

So help me I thought “goover” was some sort of Canadian expression I was not familiar with. I had to re-read the first panel 3 times to realize it was “go over”.

Okay, in the kids defense, when the rest of your career, and life, could depend on your college and your college really does look at your high school grades(even if you don’t realize you need college until your 50+) the risk of a poor grade is a threat.

Gee, and we’re told that American kids are the worst…. ?

You’re a school teacher. You ALL teach drama!

A pop quiz on material taught before Halloween weekend? I don’t think it matters how good her notes were last week.

Michael is in the fourth panel. Why is he in Miss Edwards’ class? Was he held back, or he is not ready for a science class of other kids his age?

I tended to do well in subjects I actually liked, example History I had 4.0 grade, not so well in math, I still managed to graduate with a 3.2 GPA. Although I’m not sure how.

Give the test and let it go at that. They learn that way.

I think every STEM teacher EVER has resonated with that last panel at some point. Heck I had a grad school prof in my Ph.D. program chastise some students about something similar.

Kids do not listen.

Kids/students need to learn about responsibility and consequences. My soldiers needed the same lessons but fortunately they understood their possible consequences and paid better attention in training.

I loved test day. I scored well and didn’t have to listen to anyone talk for an hour.

In 9th grade history there was a test which about 95% of the class failed, the teacher offered to give the exact same test again to anyone willing to come on a Saturday. My buddy and I studied and studied and went, there was only 2 other students there. Well it was the exact test but he had changed the order of the questions, the two other guys didn’t even look just started marking in answers, we used the scan cards, and were done in 5 minutes. Needless to say they failed and were really pissed when they found out. My friend and I both ended up with A’s.

As a long time, over 50 years, teacher educator I will not speak to your experiences in your classrooms or the pedagogy exhibited in this particular strip.

But what I noticed is that this teacher is in a wheelchair. Is this the first time this character has been in the strip? Just this morning Steven Way (look him up) from the show Rami came to my pre-service teacher class (virtually) here at the university where I teach. He rolled into my class 6 years ago and I have learned from him every time we interact. He is a substitute teacher in Northern New Jersey when he is not being a disability advocate, writer, actor and sit down comedian.

So, way to go Lynn. I would like to see more if this character and how she and the students interact. We can all learn something as well as get our daily chuckle.

Every Friday there is a Chemistry quiz except on the days when there is one of three tests. Check your syllabus, the dates are all published in advance.

Teachers are the WORST!

This may be tomorrow’s strip:

Miss Edwards: “I cannot fathom how you kids stunk it up; we goovered the material in class! Be grateful I have decided to grade on a curve.”

Elizabeth: “You mean half the class is going to flunk??”

Miss Edwards: “Do not complain! If I graded on a straight percentage, the whole class would have flunked!”

Because no matter what subject it is, it is drama!

Drama today is five-fold thanks to remote learning. I know. (YES — this will be on the test)

As a science teacher observe the synchronized chorus echo of the class. Test can be on another day.

Also, how well you do on a quiz or a test depends on how well you take class notes.