Problems with calculus

I'll be honest, I was expecting the first week back from spring break to be a breeze. It's a four day week and there shouldn't be any big projects to do. But, for some strange reason, my calculus class has a ridiculous amount of work. There is a quiz every day of the week except for Monday, only because it goes against the rules to schedule one on the first day back. The quizzes will be on material that wasn't covered in class. Our teacher strongly suggested that we look at some AP problems over the break. Unfortunately, doing math homework over spring break wasn't a priority for me.

So now that we're being quizzed consecutively three times, I am under prepared. I could study for them if I didn't have to do the math homework, which is a lot. Also, the homework is on a completely different topic, so by doing the homework, I am not studying the right material at all. I just get a little angry when our teacher does things like this. Of course, there are a few people who have done the work she suggested, so they will get perfect scores. But for anyone who didn't work over the break, it's hard to keep up. I feel like the no work over break rule should be enforced.

The other rule that my calculus teacher disobeys is the thirty minutes of homework rule. She assigns ridiculous amounts amounts of work that take well over thirty minutes. When we spend a period working on homework problems on the board, she will solve the problems herself. In the fifty minute period, she often has trouble finishing the four or five problems that we ask her about. In addition, she is the teacher and knows how to solve the problems already. For the students, the problems will undoubtedly take longer as we don't have as much experience. So the forty or fifty questions we usually have in a week take way longer than we should have to spend on calculus. Even if we work for an hour a day, that's only seven hours a week; completing the whole calculus assignment can take me even longer.

When you add these two factors together, the excessive homework and quizzing on work done over spring break, you get one unhappy camper. The general consensus across all the calculus students seems to agree with me in saying that we are getting unfair amounts of work. Even after many students have complained, nothing has changed. Luckily, we're on the final stretch, the last quarter of the year.

Chompers

As I sit here in class I can hear the sound of Tahar's chips crunching over the music playing through my headphones. Granted that chips are normally a noisy food, Tahar is chewing with his mouth open, so it's pretty loud. Hearing him eating reminds me of the other times that he chomps on his food. I feel like his mother when I tell him, "Stop chewing with your mouth open!" Unfortunately, he never stops.

I thought that everyone had it drilled into their minds, "chew with your mouth closed." It came with, "Don't play with your food" for me. I'm not sure when all of you got the lesson, but apparently Tahar never got it. Whenever he eats, he "chomps" with his mouth open in a way that makes a loud smacking noise. It reminds me of people who chew their gum with their mouth open. Shouldn't people have the courtesy to keep their eating quiet?

Chomping goes against all the rules of table manners and etiquette. While there are other rules that are less strict, like having your elbows on the table or silverware placement, I feel chomping should be one of the most strict. Loud chewing is one of the most disturbing things you could do during a meal. Chewing with your mouth open also reveals the content of your mouth, sure to gross out anyone across the table. I can't point out anybody specific other than Tahar, but you should all make a conscious effort to stop chomping. If you're around a chomper, beat some manners into them! Please!

Also as I was finishing my post up I noticed a few people complaining about how loud Tahar's music was. I guess it's part of Tahar to be loud.

Anyway, good luck with whatever tests you have to finish up the quarter. Only one left! Some 40 days of school and I think 80 total days. I don't know how those numbers match up though...the countdown in the lounge must be far off. I'm excited for summer either way