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School Day Goes Into Overtime

At Wise High School in Upper Marlboro, Michelle Guinn teaches algebra after school to students who still need to pass a statewide test to graduate. (Photos By Linda Davidson -- The Washington Post)

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"It is 27,000 or something," Barney says, again calling out a wrong answer.

"You have to divide it, stupid!" Ashley says.

"I did divide it!" Barney says.

Guinn breaks up the argument, explaining how the calculators can cut down the time spent solving problems and how to figure out what the median is.

"I don't understand this foolishness!" Sydne cries.

A fresh commotion erupts in the classroom: The students are frustrated by the material, the calculators, the lack of a break for the past hour.

"You're not listening," Guinn says. "It's not fair. This is for you. I'm explaining it to you, and you refuse to listen. It's not going to get to you if you don't listen."

"Okay," Ashley says quietly.

"We got some understanding?" Guinn asks.

The students nod.

"Let's get one more done, and we're going to call it a day."

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School Day Goes Into Overtime

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