Test time

I'm giving a test.

The students are all heads down, scribbling on their papers. Until the first mostly empty papers come up, and I can start filling them with red `0's and `2's, I have nothing to do. I'm bored. I've left mistakes in the test so the smarter students will come up and ask questions. But no one has got to them yet; so I sit.

I fiddle with some work, but it isn't going anywhere. I'm running through various approaches to a problem and they all seem to come to the same sticky point. Perhaps the problem needs someone smarter. Maybe I should ask Attila for help. I wonder if my research grant is enough to get him here for this one. "If you can't solve a problem, buy someone who can."

I look up at the students. No one seems to be cheating, but I remind them anyways, "No Cheating!"

I wonder where they are now on the test. I like to give a long test. But sometimes it is too long. I pick out a good student. Unfocusing my eyes, I slowly shrink the distance between us until I can reach out and grab her paper. She is doing fine - some of the early questions are left blank, but she is well into the meaty problems, and will have plenty of time to get back to the blank ones. I put the paper back on her desk, and refocus my eyes.

The student looks at me annoyed and confused, but I gesture for here not to worry about it and to get back to work.