Exam supervision

The boringness of exam supervision, let me tell you it.

9:35 - I take over from the first teacher and walk into a room full of kids who are about to finish their exams after only half the alloted time.  The exam is for Year 9/10 Journalism.

9:36 - I read over the exam paper they're doing.

9:45 - Unable to correct essays or even read the paper due to school rules, I am forced to make endless circles around the room like a slowly dying blowfly, only with less noise, and more slowly.  To relieve my boredom, I count how many times I circle the room.

9:55 - I begin to memorise student names as I make my way around the room.  The goal is to know them all by the end of the exam.

10:00 - A girl asks to go to the toilet.  I say no.

10:05 - I have counted that I've made 14 trips around the room.  Most of the kids have finished their exams by now.  Four are sleeping with their heads down on the desk.  Five are drawing.  Seven are staring blankly into space.  Two are staring out the window.  Four or five diligent ones are still going strong.  I give up counting my trips as they have all blurred together by now.

10:10 - I notice that one boy is drawing hundreds of little flies on his sheet of paper.  Am slightly disturbed by his drawings.  Have, by now, memorised all student names.  Begin drafting LJ entry about the boringness of exam supervision in my head.

10:15 - Boy has given up drawing on paper and has started to decorate his hand.

10:16 - Notice that boy drawing on his hand has drawn a different smiley face on each knuckle.  Am amused.

10:20 - Announce that the end of the exam is in five minutes.  Twenty three students silently scream hooray in their minds.  Two scribble furiously.

10:25 - Finally announce end of exam.  Collect 25 papers, count them, bundle them off to the teacher(s) they belong to.

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The fact that teachers aren't allowed to do corrections (or anything, for that matter) during exam supervision would be far less frustrating if it weren't for the fact that I have so much work.  Fourteen hour days are not fun.  :-(