Who do you think will be the busiest teacher when the new semester starts?
And the answer is that the teacher is not daring to take a sip of water because he is banging on the keyboard sitting in the office right now.
Tadak, Tadakdak!
"Oh, really? So here's the score of... "
Lopez, who was recording upcoming test scores for each subject, laughed.
In his mind, the record for the lowest in New York State, with a graduation rate of 45%, is right where he works.
The New York state average public high school graduation rate is 78%, and the 33% drop from the average is not fictitious.
Then, Lopez, who was tasked with checking the average grades of the middle school students who failed to graduate, was shaking his head wearily.
The average score is 43 points... the next four years for Fort Raymond could be even darker. "
If the passing score for block D is 65 points this time, the new student will definitely start the semester with a bad grade point average.
Lopez, who had been thirsty for iced coffee all this time, continued to organize the grades for the following classes with a lethargic, tired face.
The zero point that appeared at the beginning made him dizzy for a moment, but Lopez continued to work silently.
Then an unexpected number appeared.
"100 points? "Absolutely."
Lopez jumped, hurriedly double-checked the results, and clicked her tongue in frustration.
"Ah haaaa... It's an ESL class."
"There's no way a perfect grade would be in a normal classroom. "
The ESL proficiency test measures your basic level of English.
Since this is a test where anyone can get a perfect score if they have solid grammar and vocabulary as well as conversational skills, Lopez dismisses the twinkling eyes of expectation. on their own and continue typing to score.
Then, roll your eyes at the absolute point again.
This time it's not ESL.
<>
Immediately after that, it suddenly continued to repeat itself.
Lopez closed her eyes with a puzzled expression after looking at a student's ability test results.
[Jinho]
-ESL lv.3: 100%
-Geometry (Math lv.3): 100%
-World History (History lv.2.5): 100%
-Biology (Science lv.2.5): 100%
GPA: 100 percent
"Hey,... are they all perfect points?"
Something that never happened at Fort Raymond.
***
Okay, it's over! After all, the first day of school is the best! "
"Let's go shopping today!"
"Do you have any money?"
"Of course not. So let's bring Johnny along and tell him to pay for both of us! "
Because it was only the first day of school, the students who finished school earlier than usual gathered in groups, then scattered everywhere.
Meanwhile, Jinho also took his bag and went home with a rather satisfied expression.
<
When he was in high school, he didn't speak English very well. But this is a trader who has lived in the US for over 30 years, so everything in ESL is not challenging.
But unlike ESL, Jinho went to other classes with a bit of anxiety.
After all, he hadn't taken private lessons since college, so he didn't know what subjects like math and science would be like.
But strangely, when he saw the exam paper, he solved it very easily.
As if doing the exercises he had known for a long time, Jinho finished all of them in just 15 minutes.
<
<
He walked slowly.
"Mom, I'm back!"
"Oh! My son! "Coming back so soon?"
It's the first day of school. Just take the test and you'll be done. Mom, are you going to work early? "Bring me along!"
"What? Do you want to come with me? "
At Jinho's words, his mother asked in surprise.
Jinho's mother, who was a full-time housewife, wanted to find a job to help the family, so she started as a part-time restaurant waitress.
She planned to go out for a bit in the evening as people gradually gathered to help, and she was surprised that her son would suddenly follow.
Minh replied skillfully.
"I was passing by and saw that the restaurant was looking for a delivery person. Maybe door-to-door delivery to the surrounding areas? If so, I'll give it a try. "
"No, Jinho. It's dangerous. Do you know what kind of place this town is? "
Her anxiety is not without reason.
Jinho's family entered the United States with all their possessions just to stay here.
At least for them, it is, but what will their place be like for households with only $1000 in their pocket?
Even worse, especially if it's a budget apartment, is for the lower classes to live together. They are even poorer than Jinho's family.
His mother stopped him, fearing that Jinho might be in danger. But Jinho responded to his mother confidently.
"Ah, mom, all the kids in this neighborhood are friends. There's nothing dangerous."
"However...."
"You'll be leaving before four, won't you?" Then I'll get ready. "
Jinho, who easily persuaded his mother, entered the room and began to change into comfortable clothes.
***
In fact, Jinho understood better than anyone how dangerous this neighborhood was.
The neighborhood that was originally the site of an annual gun accident and occasional robberies and murders is the area where Jinho's family currently lives.
This was originally a commercial area that was redeveloped after that, and it was sorted to some extent, but compared to other areas, the risk was not much different.
And so, the more he wanted to follow his mother,
If his memory is correct, around this time, his mother also had her wallet stolen by a robber.
My mother was safe then. But now... who knows for sure what might happen? "
For Jinho, who is reliving a new life, the most important thing right now is the happiness of his family.
<
***
At Jinho's words, the owner of the restaurant, Alfredo, scratched his cheek with a troubled expression.
"It is true that I need a delivery man, but is that okay? Especially when traveling alone in this area... "
"Uncle, don't worry. It's not like we live in this town for a day or two, right? It'll be fine if I just walk on the main road.
"But your mother will be worried..."
"I'm going out with my mom because I'm worried too. But I can't sit still forever. We just need to do home delivery in a few nearby areas first. Getting a part-time job is good for both of us. If something dangerous happens, you can quit your job immediately."
"Hmmm, that's fine. Since your mother is also a sincere person, consider me helping her. "
"I thank you very much, sir!"
"I'm not young anymore, but I really enjoy this job." The kids in this town don't know how to be scared at all, don't know how worried adults are..."
With the permission of the restaurant owner, who confided in his plight, Minh was also offered a part-time job at the restaurant with his mother.
Unlike Jinho, who was excited about his new job, his mother couldn't hide her uneasiness.
How does he know our family is in trouble...?
His mother wanted to tell him to go to school at times like this, but she knew her son wouldn't care how much he studied.
However, she still wore the apron and started working, thinking that it was good that Jinho had grown up a bit like this.
Ruuuum---
When Minh noticed the call on his phone, he tilted his head, wondering who this unknown number was.
No one in America can call Jinho unless it's his parents.
"Who's that?"
The mother frowned in surprise, her eyes widening at the unexpected caller.
[Hi. Are you the mother of Jinho, the student? My name is Heindel Doris, vice-principal of Fort Raymond.
"Yes? Yes? Fort Raymond School?"
[Yes, this is Fort Raymond School. Are you the mother of Jinho, the student?]
"Wait, wait a minute! Jinho-ah! "
"Yes?"
"Are you causing trouble at school again?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Are you kidding me?"
Jinho's mother is not very good at English.
So, instead of asking what the caller had said, she hesitated to find out why she had received the call from the school.
Because until now, the last time I received a call like this was because Jinho was causing trouble in the school.
Finally, he received a call from his mother.
"Yes, Jinho, please listen."
[Oh, Jinho, is that you? There's this thing...
After talking on the phone for a short while, he hung up after saying that he already knew, and Jinho's mother, who was standing next to him, asked
"Who is that? What happened, son? "
"That's the vice principal... and he asked me to come to school with you tomorrow."
"Is it so troublesome that you have to go too?"
"No, I'm not causing trouble. Why do you keep misinterpreting me like I'm destructive... Maybe prejudice, but..."
Jinho, who was currently recalling his past for a while, scratched his head with a bewildered expression and started talking about the previous conversation on the phone.
"He called me because I have another test tomorrow."
"Why? If you go to the test, why do you have to come with me? "
"He said he'd seen all the tests, and they were perfect."
"What!?"
His mother, who was dozing off, was wondering if she was mishearing, and Jinho just shrugged in response.
"The tests I took were all perfect. So the school wanted me to take an extra test, that's all."
***
"Hello, are you Jinho and your mother?"
"Yes, hello."
"I'm Jinho."
"Hmm?"
Vice Principal Heindel Doris welcomed Jinho and his mother to his private office.
Vice Principal Heindel, who was greeted with a light handshake, raised his eyebrows with an amused expression.
"You said you just came to the US last year, but your pronunciation is exactly like a native."
Yesterday, after hearing about Jinho's test results, the vice-principal looked up all the information about him.
All his transcripts before coming to the US were all F for the past year, and of course, with such a result, this boy must have been very poor in academics.
However, the boy changed dramatically after the summer vacation.
Vice Principal Heindel, who guided the two to the table, greeted them with a smile and said,
"The reason I called to invite you here was student Jinho, who showed a great result in the test yesterday."
"Wait a minute. Can I explain it to my mother, please?"
"Oh, of course."
"So, what is the vice-principal saying?"
Finally, Jinho claimed to be the interpreter during a rather lengthy conversation.
Heindel, who was looking at Jinho carefully, shook his head slightly.
And then, for sure.
'With this level of English, it's definitely impossible for him to fail English like last year.'
The fact that the boy passed the test yesterday was not cheating at all.
"Now, can we continue talking?"
"Ah, yes. So today I want to ask Jinho something. If he feels uncomfortable about school right now, then tell him. "
"What do you want me to say?"
"Now, would you like to take a GED test?"
GED, i.e., the exam to test the competency of higher education in the US.
Jinho thought for a moment when the vice principal asked about the test that would help him qualify for high school in America and nodded happily.
In fact, he himself was wondering where he was right now.
The GED test begins, and the vice principal will administer the test.
In each subject of English, Maths, Science, and Social Affairs, Jinho was recognized as graduating with only a score of 145/200.
"... 192!?"
"Oh, is that tall, vice principal?"
The mother asked the vice-principal with a look of disbelief, and he laughed several times before answering.
"A score of 145 or higher is considered a high school graduation, and a score of 165 or higher means that you are ready to go to university." A score of 175 or higher means you have understood an entire university course. "
"Yes!? Is Jinho my son? "
Moreover, when you get 185 points or more, you're already in the top 1% of students... even Jinho got 192 points.
Vice Principal Heindel, who scratched his forehead while sighing,
"This means that Jinho students are not inferior at all to the selected class of a key school."
It took Jinho's mother a long time to digest that statement.