I’m back again. Don’t worry, I haven’t died or given up writing. On the contrary, I’ve been hard at work on several novels I’ve been writing since last fall. They’re almost done, and I’m hoping to get back to writing for the blog more regularly.
copyright Sarah Potter
Pay to Play Pedagogy
Exams at BDV For-Profit High School were about to begin. Jamie donned his VR goggles. The scene changed to a snowy forest.
A Viking charged him, ax raised, shouting “Imperative!”
“Die!” Jamie screamed and stabbed it.
Another ran from his right. “Future!”
“I will destroy you!” The Viking died like the first.
An arrow whistled from the darkness. As he died, Jamie saw the words Past Perfect written on the shaft. He had had problems with that before.
Please pay $5.00 or get an F. Jamie hit pay. He only had $30 for the exam. He needed to do better.
The Green-Walled Tower 
February 23rd, 2017 at 8:13 pm
That is a scary fture…
February 23rd, 2017 at 9:05 pm
Yeah, really.
February 24th, 2017 at 1:17 am
Ooohh! Glad your novels have gone well. Wishing you luck David.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:38 pm
Thank you, Louise. I appreciate it. I might share the cover images for them when they’re all done.
February 24th, 2017 at 2:44 am
Very inventive!
February 26th, 2017 at 10:34 pm
Thanks!
February 24th, 2017 at 4:26 am
And there’s probably a whole TV channel based on this. XD
February 26th, 2017 at 10:34 pm
Haha, yeah, I think you’re right. Educational TV would have a whole different look to it. I wonder what the SATs would be like?
February 24th, 2017 at 4:41 am
I bet there are a lot of students who would appreciate paying for a pass! Scary future.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:33 pm
Yes, I’m sure. 🙂
February 24th, 2017 at 5:30 am
There is something clever about having kids interact with a VR format by yelling out battle cries in the proper tense in order to advance – that part I like. The chilling part is the payment, adding additional stress to poorer children.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:30 pm
I’m pretty sure my students would love that kind of test, at least the boys. The money aspect though, yes, it is troubling. Thanks for the comment.
-David
February 24th, 2017 at 5:58 am
Tough exams at BVD. He’s going to start racking up college debt before ever leaving high school.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:28 pm
In the future, students will be lucky to get out of elementary school without having to sign a promissory note, perhaps. Can you imagine kindergarteners with credit scores? That might make a good story too, actually, about the repo guys coming to repossess the tricycle and sandbox.
February 24th, 2017 at 6:19 am
Dear David,
I did a happy dance when I saw your green tower amid the squares. This some kind of exam. As always, your take on the prompt is unique and wonderful. I’ve missed you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
February 26th, 2017 at 10:26 pm
Your comments always mean a lot to me, Rochelle. Thank you. I find that inertia is strong with me, so missing one week easily stretches to two, then three, etc., especially when I’m busy. I’m going to try to re-enter the group, as much as possible. I have missed you too.
-David
February 24th, 2017 at 7:49 am
A truly terrifying exam, in so many ways. Why do we always imagine the future so horribly? I suppose happy futures don’t have enough conflict for writers. Glad to see you back. But novels — *plural* — since the fall? How is that even possible? You must be a whirlwind of productivity, good for you!
February 26th, 2017 at 10:25 pm
Thanks, Joy. I think you’re right that Utopian futures are better to live in, but less interesting to write about. Star Trek did pretty well with it though. I have been busy writing, although not as much as I would like sometimes.
February 26th, 2017 at 11:31 pm
Which explains why I’m such a Trek fan – ever the optimist. But yes, it does make it harder to find the conflict for any one story. I’m glad to hear you’re writing; good luck making progress!
February 24th, 2017 at 6:39 pm
The past is always trickiest…
February 25th, 2017 at 7:48 am
All the best for your novels.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:23 pm
Thanks, Sharmishtha. I’m sorry it’s been so long. I’m hoping to get back into blogging more soon.
February 25th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Ah… yes, when we abandon meritocracy for new aristocracy… it’s already happening.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:23 pm
Yeah, especially in this country. This story really depressed my wife, who is about to be a teacher. I meant it to be absurd, but there is some truth in it.
February 25th, 2017 at 6:00 pm
Welcome back, David
Several novels, you say. Sounds interesting.
I’d dropped out of blogging too but restarted in 2017 – and so far the resolution is holding and hopefully, it will become a habit again.
Cheers,
Eric
February 26th, 2017 at 10:21 pm
Good to hear from you, Eric. I’m actually writing three young adult novels for three of my nieces and nephews. They were supposed to be for Christmas and I started back in August, but 3 polished novels in a bit over 3 months was a bit unrealistic. I’m hoping for mid-April for them all to be finished. I’m hoping to be back blogging at least fairly often.
February 25th, 2017 at 6:02 pm
Actually, this kind of exam sounds like a lot of fun–except for the cost. Studying like this would be a blast… Great story, very imaginative.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:20 pm
Thanks! I don’t know if I’d do as well at it, but it would make studying for it a lot more fun. Give me an exam in a Minecraft format. 🙂
February 27th, 2017 at 6:51 pm
Nice to read you here, David. You’ve written a fun story with an amusing twist.
May 16th, 2017 at 6:24 pm
Oooh, cool idea! For Profit HS . . . You could get some serious mileage out of this concept if you decided to pursue it. In general, I like the idea of turning education into more of a game, just because, you know, people might learn more if they were having fun while they did.
November 7th, 2017 at 8:15 am
What an exam! I would love to have one of these except for the monetary aspect 🙂 😀