Changes to Midterms at ERHS

With 2020 feeling like the longest year ever, 2021 seems to be carrying on its legacy. But I am not here to complain about all of the things happening in the world. I am here to discuss an important change in our school lives: the cancellation of midterms here at ERHS.  Once I heard that midterms would be canceled, I asked students and teachers about their reaction to the change.

I sat down with our High School Principal, Mr. Schaffer, who made the final decision to cancel the exams.  I started by asking the deciding factors in canceling midterms. His response was unexpected to me. Mr. Schaffer explained that the discussion of midterms started in the summer of 2020, among himself, Mr.Krauz, and Ms.Terranova. He also said that the administration wanted to see how hybrid learning was working out, as this information would inform future decisions. Throughout October and November, the administration opened up the conversation to all of the teachers. Many of them responded that students would not benefit from a formal midterm because it would be very challenging to give the test to everyone and get accurate results. I then inquired about potential drawbacks and any flaws with getting rid of midterms, particularly as to how this cancellation may affect Regents exams. Mr. Schaffer explained that “the state isn’t equipped to give Regents exams at home, but they are still up in the air. If they do happen, we would have to set up a mock practice exam to prepare students for the real exam since standardized testing hasn’t occurred in a long time.”  I also asked if Mr. Schaffer had any advice or suggestions to go about the rest of the year with a positive attitude. He said students should stay motivated at home and find a productive workspace. He also encourages students to email their teachers and guidance counselors if they need help with anything. 

I also got input from the foreign language department. Mr.Cuttita stated: “I would like another week of instruction for students instead of trying to give an exam to students in class and at home.” Upon hearing about the cancellation of midterms, students in my Spanish class like Gianna Manos said, “Wonderful! Amazing! I love that.” I asked her why she felt this way and her response was that she gets stressed taking tests because she feels so much relies on her grade for that exam. Tenth grader Natalia Wilkerson added, “I think it’s the greatest thing in the entire world.” She further explains that she feels students are having a harder time learning online and a formal test like a midterm would be setting up students for failure. 

Next, I visited the math department where I asked my class and the teachers the question about canceling midterms. Ms. Freudenberg felt that midterms are for the teacher to evaluate how the student is understanding the material and if they need more help. Mrs. Stegner had mixed feelings. She feels that executing midterms during virtual learning would be a nightmare and there would have to be many versions of the test to have accurate results. She also believes that there needs to be an assessment of the students’ progress whether it be a formal midterm or not. She feels strongly that there needs to be a final exam at the end of the year even if there isn’t a midterm. Nick Stebner and Edward Abreau Lopez said they love that midterms have been canceled. When I asked them to elaborate, they said they don’t enjoy studying and find it hard to prepare for big tests.

Before visiting the English Department, I already knew that my English teacher Mr.Canale is a huge advocate for mental health and never wants his students to have any stress. I was interested to hear his response. He said that it’s fine that midterms are being canceled and hopes that it relieves pressure from students as well as staff as we make adjustments to the unforeseen school year ahead of us. Other students in my class such as Tyler Hyland are pretty happy about the cancelation because he is having trouble understanding some content in some of his classes. Ms.Isik said, “Traditional midterms being canceled gives an opportunity for project-based assessments in all schools and there needs to be an assessment of students’ knowledge. I think that the next generation of test-takers will be more creative given the times we are in.” 

From the science department, I found Mr.Kimbel, the newest edition to the East Rockaway Staff and my new chemistry teacher. He believes students need to show their progress. After his response, I asked the class if anyone else would like to give their opinion. David Rogala spoke up and said, “They should be canceled. A formal midterm could put students at risk of getting sick.” This I found interesting because other students and teachers were focused on the stress that comes with big tests such as a midterm, but David was the first to speak of the health aspect during the pandemic. I found Mr.Crowley next door and he was torn about the cancellation. His answer was that this extra class time would be a great opportunity to have students in the building or working virtually collaborating with other classmates and with their teachers doing more learning instead of stressing over a formal assessment. 

Ms.Horvath, my business teacher, was very excited to answer and stated she felt strongly about this subject: “I think it’s a good idea to not have midterms because it has been a very stressful year and I think everybody could use a break. That being said, I think it is important for students to show what they have learned in a format other than a formal test.” Next period, I asked Mrs.Parasmo when she greeted me at the beginning of class. She expressed that with midterms being canceled it could be a good opportunity to catch up on the curriculum since this school year is very different. It’s beneficial to not rush through important content and to focus on learning. Sophomore Julia Passanissi offered a different opinion. She does not believe that we have had anything substantial like a midterm to show what we’ve learned throughout the year. Julia thinks that finals may be much harder because we haven’t had any practice in over a year taking a standardized test.

After getting many students’ and teachers’ input on the cancellation of midterms, the overall consensus is that people are happy. Whether it is less stress or health concerns, it is apparent that this is the best decision for both students and faculty during this difficult year.