Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Finals and Exemptions

The kids have semester finals at school this week. I know high school has been a long time ago, but I don't remember having finals. Really I don't. I also don't remember being able to be exempt from finals, but that's what these kids get. If they have good enough grades and not too many absences, they can be exempt from their finals. They still have to take 3, no matter what, but the rest of them they do not have to take. One of the finals Cory had to take was for Jazz Band. He had to write a paper and turn it in by 8am today. He turned it in yesterday, and he didn't even have to go to school today. Tomorrow he has to go and take his other two exams, and then Thursday he gets to stay home again. There's no school Friday for anyone.

Beth had to go take two tests today. She's got two tomorrow - luckily the same time Cory has his, so they can go together. Then she's got another one on Friday. Yeah, somehow she had to take 5 instead of 3, so she only got out of a couple. I guess some of the classes have what they call a 'culminating activity' and you can't be exempt from it. It doesn't count toward your grade, either. Beth doesn't think it's fair that she has to go for those, but there's nothing she can do about it. Besides, being able to skip any exams at all is a big privilege and not a right. Teenagers have a hard time understanding the difference.