This became policy how?

Jay and Bill (not their names), of Marketing, often schedule marketing events here in the center. These events theoretically include a practice exam for the exam whose class is being marketed, followed by a sales pitch trying to get students to sign up for a class. All fine in theory. In practice it often devolves into let's just let the front desk people handle it, probably because they neither want to come into the center on off-hours nor hire someone else to proctor the exam and give the sales pitch.

There are a few problems with this. First, the front desk folks have several other responsibilities, none of which include marketing. Most of those responsibilities include actually being at the front desk itself, though occasionally we run down to the basement for materials. Thus, if we're to proctor an exam, we have to run in and out between out other responsibilities, and things get haphazard - the phone rings and doesn't get answered; there's no one at the desk to greet or direct incoming students; or answer questions; or scan (grade) exams of the students who want to leave, but would like their results before they go; etc.

Further, we can't spend the time in the classroom to actually delver a marketing pitch, so selling the course doesn't happen, anyway - all we have time for is to run in, start the exam or the next section, and run out. Sometimes it means that we have to choose between putting a caller on hold or letting a testing session run over.

How does this sell the course?

Wake Forest drops the SAT

The New York Times reports that Wake Forest and Smith College no longer requires prospective students to take the SAT. They are not alone.

This is not a new debate, of course, but nevertheless I'm going to toss in my 2 cents. Whatever else the SAT and ACT may be, money plays a large part of the game. Applicants have to pay to take the exams, and pay to have the scores forwarded to the schools. Test Prep Company and its competitors make a lot of money on the test as well. So wherever the SAT may be headed, it's not going to vanish without a fight. (Not convinced? Consider also the 2005 revision of the exam, which were arguably due to the University of California's decision to stop using the SAT in its application process unless the exam underwent a major overhaul. UC attracts a lot of applicants, which means a lot of test takers and a lot of money.)

My position? I'm currently making money off of the system, but I hope not to have to do so for very long, and I wouldn't mind seeing this exam cast aside. Since it is a money game, since affluent parents can afford test prep programs and aids, I'm not sure how students' exam results can fail to reflect their SES. And really, is SES the criteria by which we should be basing entrance to higher education?

Um, No?

This post is more about my seeming inability to say 'no'. I'm teaching two classes (down from three a week ago - I dropped my SAT class) and tutoring a half-dozen students. Doesn't sound like a lot, until I started to really look at my schedule: yesterday, for instance, I tutored from 9am - 10:30, taught from 11 - 2pm, tutored from 2:30 - 4:30, and taught again from 6 - 9pm. 12 hours, albeit with a 1 and 1/2 hour dinner break (which wasn't really 1 and 1/2 hours, as students always have questions, and I can't bring myself to hustle them out the door. I find that if I only leave fifteen minutes between obligations I tend to start my subsequent session late.)

So, why can't I say 'no'? I'd like to say that it's because I need the money, and this is true, but really, I don't want to disappoint. It's probably also related to the fact that for some of the teaching and some of the tutoring, I'm one of perhaps two people who are qualified. The other guy is new, and I don't know that he's tutoring yet. So, my schedule loads up, I can't find time to do my laundry, or play with my cats, or replace my car.

So, my New Year's resolution is to say 'no' more often, and from here on out, I intend to take Saturdays to myself - no classes, no tutoring, no front desk work. I recently dropped my Tuesday and Thursday front desk hours (I'm still on Suday during the day) and for the short term, I don't intend to replace them with tutoring or teaching - I'll be catching up with my own life.

At least, that's the plan.