I was a physics major in college. There weren’t many of us, as you can imagine. I felt for the others; I was just planning on being a teacher. I didn’t have to take some of the ridiculous classes they had to. I wish I knew some of that stuff now though – oh well.
The physics department was therefore small as a whole. Five full-time professors, with some adjuncts. One of those professors was Dr. Kaplan. Dr. Kaplan was an enigma to each of us, and I think he wanted it that way. I spent a semester as his teaching assistant in a lab; it didn’t help me wrap my mind around him any more than before.
Dr. Kaplan had a baby; it was his PHYS 201 – Waves class. At the time, he was writing a waves textbook (I can’t find it online, so I’m fairly certain it never got published). Everything we were given to read or as an assignment was hand-crafted by the master. It will come as no surprise to you that this class was fantastic. It stretched us all in the exact right ways.
There was one thing though, especially worthy of mention: the tests. The lecture portion of the class was 2 hours long. As a result, you’d think the corresponding tests would be two hours long as well. You would be wrong. A buddy and I would take 3.5 hours to finish his tests. That’s almost double class time, although maybe Ryan did take the extra half hour – he was a thorough chap.
Because Dr. Kaplan received such a hard time about the length of his tests, he came up with a strategy. He took the tests with us. He made a point to tell us about it, too. Once the tests were handed out (every time), he would mention that he was starting the test as well. Thanks man.
He would then proceed to take the test he had written himself. Most teachers do this, by the way; they just don’t usually do it while the students are in the room. Anyhow, we were also given the notice when he finished his test. About 45 minutes to an hour later he would stop the class: “If I could have just a moment everyone. Thank you. I wanted to let you know that I have now finished taking this test. It’s been 47 minutes. Okay, you all may continue.”
No one responded. What were we to say, after all? I still can’t think of anything.
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