Studyhall
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Studyhall in the American public school system is a class period in which students are given the time to study, as the name implies. Presumably, students may complete assignments, prepare for examinations, or read course work. While some do follow this recommendation, most often students take part in alternative activities familiar in any school, in any district in the country.
Notes
In the context of school, most people assume that a 'note' is a record of academic material kept by the student. Students nowadays will tell you, however, that a note is a clandestine message written to a classmate. The studyhall monitor, most often a teacher trying desperately to correct exams or homework assignments before the lunch bell, is saddled with the responsibility of encouraging serious work during the studyhall. Therefore, notes must be passed to friends without attracting the attention of said monitor.
The most popular means of transference is the pencil drop, in which the writer drops a pencil in the vacintiy of the intended receiver. The receiver then kindly picks up the pencil and hands it to the writer, at which time the note is passed. Some students are less subtle, and enjoy quicky hurling a crumpled note at a classmate when the teacher's back is turned, perhaps to erase the blackboard, or to retrieve a book. My favorite technique is the pencil sharpener drop. A student walks to the pencil sharpener, usually located in the rear of the room, and while using the appliance leaves a note in its vacinity for the receiver to find when he or she follows.
Doodling
In my experience, if asked, most students will humbly deny having any artistic ability. Yet, in studyhall, nine out of ten students will pass time by drawing idly on textbooks, notebook paper, or even the desks. It is only the desk-doodling to which studyhall monitors generally object, with good reason. The exception, of course, is if the otherwise harmless doodle is a caricature of the monitor. This is quite often the case.
Eating
Eating in classrooms is usually prohibited in classrooms. This rule turns the consumption of a candy bar or a biscuit into an exciting dare. Common methods for eating unnoticed include the Yawn-and-Chew, in which a morsel is inserted into the mouth under the guise of politeness, and the Look There! in which a teacher's attention is misdirected so that a candy can be quickly stuffed in one's pie-hole.
The Secret Truth
As a student I believed, as most of my classmates did, that I was quite clever to complete any of the above activites successfully--that is, without getting caught. As a teacher, I have discovered the secret truth: most studyhall monitors notice the notes, see the doodling, and hear the eating. As long as no one is getting hurt, however, they pretend to believe that their charges are working diligently. Why? So that those examinations will be corrected before the lunch bell rings.
Notes
In the context of school, most people assume that a 'note' is a record of academic material kept by the student. Students nowadays will tell you, however, that a note is a clandestine message written to a classmate. The studyhall monitor, most often a teacher trying desperately to correct exams or homework assignments before the lunch bell, is saddled with the responsibility of encouraging serious work during the studyhall. Therefore, notes must be passed to friends without attracting the attention of said monitor.
The most popular means of transference is the pencil drop, in which the writer drops a pencil in the vacintiy of the intended receiver. The receiver then kindly picks up the pencil and hands it to the writer, at which time the note is passed. Some students are less subtle, and enjoy quicky hurling a crumpled note at a classmate when the teacher's back is turned, perhaps to erase the blackboard, or to retrieve a book. My favorite technique is the pencil sharpener drop. A student walks to the pencil sharpener, usually located in the rear of the room, and while using the appliance leaves a note in its vacinity for the receiver to find when he or she follows.
Doodling
In my experience, if asked, most students will humbly deny having any artistic ability. Yet, in studyhall, nine out of ten students will pass time by drawing idly on textbooks, notebook paper, or even the desks. It is only the desk-doodling to which studyhall monitors generally object, with good reason. The exception, of course, is if the otherwise harmless doodle is a caricature of the monitor. This is quite often the case.
Eating
Eating in classrooms is usually prohibited in classrooms. This rule turns the consumption of a candy bar or a biscuit into an exciting dare. Common methods for eating unnoticed include the Yawn-and-Chew, in which a morsel is inserted into the mouth under the guise of politeness, and the Look There! in which a teacher's attention is misdirected so that a candy can be quickly stuffed in one's pie-hole.
The Secret Truth
As a student I believed, as most of my classmates did, that I was quite clever to complete any of the above activites successfully--that is, without getting caught. As a teacher, I have discovered the secret truth: most studyhall monitors notice the notes, see the doodling, and hear the eating. As long as no one is getting hurt, however, they pretend to believe that their charges are working diligently. Why? So that those examinations will be corrected before the lunch bell rings.
