16 November 13, 2020
FEATURES
The Fourcast
Which masks passed the test? The Fourcast Staff tested four masks; here are the results
What was the test? The Candle Test involved standing one foot away from a candle flame and trying to blow out the candle while wearing a mask. If the candle goes out, the mask is not effective.
Mask Test #1
Mask Test #2
Mask Test #3
Mask Test #4
Source: Hockaday Material: Cotton Comfort: 4/10 Test results: Passed. The flame wavered, however, which hints the mask is not totally effective.
Source: Hockaday Material: Cotton Comfort: 6/10 Test results: Passed
From where: homemade Material: Cotton Comfort: 8/10 Test results: Passed
From where: Amazon Material: Cotton Comfort: 10/10 Test results: Failed
Checking in with Jennifer Spradley Meet Jennifer Spradley of the Upper School English faculty and Writing Center by Zoya Haq Staff Writer What brought you to Hockaday, and what is your favorite part about being here so far? I retired after 30 years of teaching, and I took a year off to travel, which sounds so glamorous. But after a few months of my not incredibly glamorous (although fun) traveling experience, I decided that I was losing my mind. After painting every wall in my house and making about 18 pairs of curtains, I decided I really needed to go back to the classroom. I saw that the job was available at Hockaday, so I applied (and I got it!) and I was super excited. What I love most about Hockaday is the students. You guys are amazing and wonderful and every day that I am on campus, it’s a fantastic day, because of you. I’m not sure you all understand how incredibly remarkable you are, but you’re pretty special. Many students know you from the Writing Center. What would you say is the most enjoyable part about working with students on their papers outside of the classroom? I love talking with students about their papers because everyone has really interesting ideas that they want to express, and a lot of times, that’s all we do in the Writing Center – we just have a conversation. I ask a few questions, like “tell me more about that,” and in the process of people
telling me more about whatever it is, they realize, “Oh! I need to put that in my paper!” Really, my job in the Writing Center is super easy, because all I really have to do is hang out with amazing students who are talking about really fascinating ideas, and I just ask a couple of questions. People think I’ve done something miraculous, when all I’ve done is just ask a question! I love it. It’s like I’ve won the lottery of jobs. I get to be in both the classroom and the Writing Center – it’s awesome. What is one tidbit of advice that you wish you had given to yourself while you were in school, that you can now give to your students? You guys don’t have rankings. Not publicly, anyway, so I think that takes a lot of pressure off. I slipped from Valedictorian to Salutatorian because of Calculus, and that made me feel very ashamed of myself, and I felt like I had disappointed not just me, but my family, but now I know that doesn’t matter. Now that I’m older… it doesn’t matter. It’s important to do exactly what you guys are doing, which is to enjoy your learning experience, and to put the emphasis on that rather than on what your grade is or what your ranking is. And that to me was a do-or-die situation. It took me a long time to deal with that, with getting a lower rank than what I wanted. I mean, to be really honest, I was really
hooked into thinking that was the most important thing. And it’s not. It really is about just enjoying learning and taking those academic and intellectual chances. That’s the most important thing. What new things did you pick up over quarantine? Oh lordy! Eating. I did a lot of eating. I have also taught myself how to draw, and to paint, and to knit, and I have purchased even more power tools because I enjoy woodworking, which is really nerdy. It’s fun. I enjoy it. It makes a big noise, which is exciting. I also picked up yoga; I did a 30day yoga challenge, and I’m really tremendously horrible at yoga, but I really enjoyed it. No one sees me except my dogs, and they don’t really care. If you could choose to meet one fictional character, who would it be and why? That’s an excellent question. That’s like picking a favorite child. I’m not sure I’m completely happy with this answer, but I think I would want to meet Jane Eyre. I want to know why she marries Rochester because that doesn’t seem to be what I thought Jane would do. If you could time travel to any era in history, what would it be and why? Haha! Easy! I’m going to 1600 to see
some Shakespeare plays at the Globe Theater! And I’m not leaving. Ever. I don’t care about the plague. That doesn’t bother me. I’m good with that, because I’m going to be in the Globe Theater watching Shakespeare. I’ll bring hand sanitizer with me, so it’ll be cool. If you could choose a theme song to your life what would it be? “Born To Be Bad!” It’s a great driving song, and I’m always getting into trouble. Always. I’ve just learned to embrace the fact that you don’t have to be perfect. And I really tried hard for a long time to be perfect, and that doesn’t get you anything. Just have fun and occasionally break the rules and enjoy it. Just a little bit. I shouldn’t have said that! Don’t publish that. Don’t break the rules. That’s bad.
