Alchemausterity

Alchemilla

Ooh fingers crossed for your DD.

One of my lads is taking a girl to the prom...because he promised her in primary school. How unutterably sweet.

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

That is very sweet, but I bet he still likes her a lot or wouldn't do it! Got my sample sent off to the moderator today, I always try to be quick to make a good impression!

Alchemilla

Well done!

It is amazing to me how laid back some centres are.

Alchemilla

NSD so far...KBO.

Arkers

Hi there Al (and other teachers who read) I'm really sorry to but in, and this has nothing to do with MS but I wondered if I could trouble you for your thoughts?


My 17 DS turned up at the exam hall this morning to take his Physics AS level, and was told "Your not on the list." It would appear that someone has made a right boob, not sure who this is at present. He was directed to the examination officer, who found his name on another list (again not sure what's happened.) A desk and paper was then hastily sorted.


He sent me a text after the exam, saying that as a result of what happened he had a bit of a nightmare, couldn't concentrate and didn't finish the paper in short a meltdown. The Exam Officer said that it wasn't identified during the exam so he couldn't have been unduly stressed. I argued that I know my child, and how many 17 young lads burst into tears in front of their co-hort. I have asked for it to be recorded somewhere on the exam paperwork what has happened.


Question: Can this be done? Do you guys take on board these things, or is it part of lifes rich tapestry?


I hope you don't mind me asking? Thanks


Arkers

LydiaJ

Arkers wrote: »

Hi there Al (and other teachers who read) I'm really sorry to but in, and this has nothing to do with MS but I wondered if I could trouble you for your thoughts?

Hi there Arkers.

Afraid I don't know much about how exam boards deal with special consideration for these things, but as a physics teacher (an occasional visitor to Alchemilla's thread) I just wanted to say that's really awful, and I am so so sorry that it happened.

Hope the school sort their act out. Make doubly triply sure that he's on the list for unit 2 in a couple of weeks' time.

Alchemilla, what I actually popped over for was to share the following incident from this morning. Today in my Y9 physics lesson we were studying the way in which people's ideas about the structure of the Solar System have developed over history. One student struggled to read the name "Ptolemy" in front of the class, provoking a discussion between me and another student, as follows:

Me (to first student): The P is silent. Like in pterodactyl.
Student B: Pterodactyl has a P????
Me: Yes.
Student B: No!!! Really???
Me: Yes, it's spelt like this. [Writes pterodactyl on the board]
Student B: I thought it was "terror" [makes pouncing movement with clawed hands] dactyl.
Me: It comes from two Greek words, pteron, meaning wing, and dactyl, meaning finger. [Writes pteron on the board in Greek characters]
Student B: Awwww, so it means wing-fingers. That is soooo cute.
Me: Yes. It had long thin fingers and webbed skin between them to make wings. You've come across pteron meaning wing before. Helix or helical means spiral, doesn't it. [Writes helico -- pteron on board]
Student C: Helicopter!!!
Me: Yes - spiral wing, because it goes round and round as it goes up [makes helicopter movements with hand] instead of just along [makes aeroplane motions with arms].
Student How do you know all this Greek stuff?
Me: I have an O level in Greek.
Student What's an O level???

NB I've since looked it up and the ancient Greek for finger is dactulos, with the u (upsilon) regularly coming into English as a y, but I couldn't remember the ending for it, so I left it as dactyl.

Alchemilla

Arkers I should write/email fairly firmly but politely to the head and ask that news of the !!!! up reaches the e am board.
I am assuming he went to the correct place?
Ask for special consideration from the exam board.

Hope he is ok now.

Alchemilla

Lydia that is soo cool you know greek.

I have a teeny bit of Latin (canis latrat in via)

I should have said "silent p as in bathwater..."

apple_muncher

Arkers - I would make a lot of noise at your son's school. Go straight in at the top level. I know pupils are told to check their exsminstion list and dates, but so should the teachers. Be loud and persistent. I would be appalled to make this mistake. Good luck.

Arkers

Hi Al,


Thanks for that, I have done this as I felt frustrated by the back peddling response by the Exam officer. I made it clear that I didn't seek to blame anyone (sometimes these things happen.) My concern was only for my DS. The thing is it was totally out of character for him to complain as he keeps his own counsel - as is the want of a 17yr old!!! Hence my concern.


I did ask my brother who is head of PE at another school, so (sorry all you PE teachers!) he was no use at all:rotfl:


He was in the right place at the right time, it was most definitely the school who was at fault.


I just hope he does enough to pass, as I am totally confused about this transition stage with A'levels, ie can he retake etc.


Sorry to talk shop and thanks for the advice.


PS would love to hear more about any plans for a horse for you - have you considered an Icelandic? They are pretty amazing and v. hardy which would be fab if pony plops lives out all year.