For those who think technology, the Internet, remote learning/working technology is NOT still in the stone age, read on --

Short version, if a Dad gets himself a burrito in the background while daughter is taking a remote proctored exam, she will get massive points taken off and/or be disqualified from the test!

From an e-mail I received today:

This is not the same class that N. took, but it's an example of how serious they are about these proctored exams.
Some of the commenters said that other schools / tests are even worse and would have given no credit after spotting another person in the room.

From Facebook:
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"Just wonder if there is any possibility to retake the proctored exam? My 13 year old was in the middle of taking the his first midterm proctored exam for CSE110 in the living room when his dad came in the house and passed by in the back. They deduct 10 points out of total of 70 points - that was a huge deduction. Anyone talked to the professor and get a second chance for a proctored exam before? This is not really his fault as his dad had no idea he was doing a proctored exam and it requires 100% clearance for even the far back."

That's insane! Yes, insane.

We happen to own land, and we have multiple buildings on our mini ranch -- but most people live in a single-family house without acreage! And, gasp, some people live in small apartments! Sounds like discrimination against large families, poor people, city/suburb dwellers, and/or non-technical parents to me.

Not everyone has a "man cave" or separate building they can retreat to for some uninterrupted peace and quiet.

Not all people have a sophisticated WIFI setup that reaches to all parts of the house (including bedrooms), nor does every home own multiple desktop and/or laptop PCs. Some people live their whole online life using just a smartphone! Not every household is headed up by a tech/engineer type.

They need to "do better". I would suggest the use of technology. They need to come up with a better solution. Use a video camera to verify if any cheating was going on. Maybe 2 cameras. Record all audio. Something more sophisticated than, "Your dad crossed behind your desk to get a burrito from the fridge; you get a ZERO on the test! Shame on you!"

Also, it seems like they're blaming the child, as if expecting them to PUNISH their PARENT -- a bit of an upside-down inversion, don't you think? I mean, blaming parents for what kids do, sure. They are in charge, they should discipline their kids. But the other way around?

Do you think this is a problem of our education system? Are people too afraid to say "what if this happens, then what should we do?" for fear of being offensive?  Rules seem to be made quickly to quiet people, without looking at all the ramifications.  How do we get this to change?  

"Just wonder if there is any possibility to retake the proctored exam? My 13 year old was in the middle of taking the his first midterm proctored exam for CSE110 in the living room

The whole idea of taking a test outside of a classroom is stupid and opens the door to all kinds of abuses/cheating.  Kids have been cheating on tests (right under teacher's noses) since schooling began, but to push this idea into a home, without teacher supervision, is just lunacy.