Selene Tan

In Shoreham and Wading River, people go out of their way to stand six feet apart and wear masks and gloves.The district uses distance or online learning as a way to teach students now absent from their classrooms. 

Sophomore Selene Tan views this distance learning period as beneficial. “It helps people relax and take breaks. However, long term it would be pretty bad. We don’t even have the Regents.”

With anything new, of course, there are going to be people upset or uneasy with the new system. Teachers, parents and children find themselves out of their element. At the high school, to make sure everyone is accountable for their work, the district has recommended that each student virtually signs-in for attendance and teachers assign daily work for students. 

Tan said, “There are some problems, like remembering to do attendance. The assignments given are pretty fair. For example, if an assignment is longer than usual, teachers usually give us more time.”

The College Board decided that to be fair to all students around the world, some of whom have lost more instructional time than others, the exam will only include topics and skills most AP teachers had covered in class by early March. Students will also be able to take the tests at home on any device they have access to, whether it is a computer, tablet or smartphone.

AP tests have been shortened to 45 minutes, and for classes requiring essays, students can either type and upload their essay or hand write it, take a photo and upload it. The exam dates have been moved back slightly. 

Tan added that the shortened tests are not particularly fair. “I think it’s quite convenient for those who are good in a particular area, like writing a DBQ, but not convenient for those who are good in other areas like LEQ’s and were depending on those to get a better grade on AP exams. But I like how I can type because I type faster and neater than I write, which can be beneficial for me personally,” Tan said.

However, New York State Board of Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa announced Tuesday, April 7, that June exit exams will be canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic. Students who planned to take one or more Regents exams in June will be exempt as long as they pass the related course this school year. The August Regents are still scheduled, and state education officials are deciding whether to cancel the August tests.

Tan wishes she had the chance to take her Regents exams because of the positive impact they could have had on her grades. “I am pretty upset that the Regents  are canceled. All I can think about is what that would mean for our grades. I don’t think we will take them this year or next year,” she said.