S04.E10: Testing

[chitowngirl]

Janine must rethink her lesson plans after her class performs poorly on a practice test; Jacob struggles to engage a disinterested student; the district sends a new custodian to train under Mr. Johnson.
 

Airdate January 15, 2025 on ABC, next day Hulu

[DanaK]

This will be delayed 20 minutes as ABC will be showing President Biden’s farewell address to the nation. So about 8:50pm ET after Shifting Gears

[Galileo908]

Back to a normal episode. Janine only listens to Barbara, who gives the same advice as everyone else, only more "majestically." Is Barb actually gonna retire?!

Of course other white people can't stand Jacob. "But this is the block where I got round-housed..." is such a great Jacob line. Such a sad runner of him getting kicked off the bus early. People even cheered at the end.

Janine's problem with the testing was that she needs to teach the test a different way. I don't miss my school days where it just felt like all testing, and so much prep time FOR the tests.

Ava is asking Janine for advice?! She's come so far. It was because she's down BAD for O'Shon, but asked advice on how to date "a poor." Just tell him how you feel!

Loved Ava's conversation with Gregory.

"I'd buy her a reliable..."

"Ugh!"

"Pre-owned..."

"UGH!"

"Hybrid."

"Get out."

Eric Andre as the trainee janitor! Of course Mr. Johnson is (rightfully) suspicious that he's being forced out. The man really does have the magic touch. Of course he popularized "that's trash." And "I'll be back" until "that bum from Australia" stole it from him. Loved that. 

 

[Crashcourse]

I liked Melissa channeling Alan Iverson with the "practice, practice" line. 

I knew the janitor trainee looked familiar but couldn't remember his name. 

[Galileo908]

5 minutes ago, Crashcourse said:

I liked Melissa channeling Alan Iverson with the "practice, practice" line. 

I'm loving the runner of Melissa's terrible impressions.

5 minutes ago, Crashcourse said:

I knew the janitor trainee looked familiar but couldn't remember his name. 

I feel like Eric Andre didn't get to do much, just react to Mr. Johnson. Unless he's in more episodes this season, but I don't know.

[Constant Viewer]

I got nostalgic seeing the scantron machine. Our district got rid of ours a few years ago to do online testing. 

[kathyk2]

This episode was better than last week but it wasn't funny. I felt bad for Janine she thinks her students success reflects badly on her which it doesn't. I don't understand why Jacob doesn't have a car or why he didn't ask RJ what was wrong.

[txhorns79]

26 minutes ago, kathyk2 said:

This episode was better than last week but it wasn't funny. I felt bad for Janine she thinks her students success reflects badly on her which it doesn't.

If the entire class is failing, then I think it does reflect on her.  Wasn't that why it was suggested she change her teaching methods because her old way of prepping for the exam wasn't working? 

 

[possibilities]

Ava was right that Jacob needed to ask RJ what he liked to do. But I also thought he should just flat out be blunt with RJ. "I'm worried about you. You don't seem happy. You are not participating. " Go from there.

And him bothering the bus driver and not noticing is in character, but also really not funny. I didn't like seeing him being kicked off the bus, and I basically never like seeing a character being incapable of reading the room and people essentially bullying them instead of telling them to please give them space (or whateer it is they are not reading). "Please don't talk to me while I'm driving. It's exhausting for me" is better than kicking him off the bus.

Janine had a similar story. I don't know why her teaching method that worked every other year didn't work with this group, but maybe it's because Janine was gone half the year and they had a parade of ever changing subs? Or was that last year? Time is a blur at this point.

But, also, they could have just told her what they told her in the end, which is what worked-- that she needs to change it up, it happens from time to time, and doesn't mean she's a failure but that the new students need a different method, and it happens to other teachers, too. They all got annoyed but they also could have told her a lot sooner. 

Again, I'm not a fan of stories that turn on everybody being assholes. 

I'm worried about RJ! He seems genuinely depressed.  Did Jacob say what his grades are like? If he was failing at his school work, they might be able to test him for a learning disability, but it seems like his problem is more emotional or social than academic. Why yes, I'm taking it seriously! It was a more interesting story for me than any of the others, and also they didn't resolve it, so I think the show itself is building it as significant.

Ava's thing with the tech guy... sigh. Why does he like her? So far he seems smart, respectful, grounded. So I don't get it.

[marceline]

Jacob really worked my nerves in this ep. Of course I have to admit to being "triggered" a bit. I'm an introvert and it's infuriating when people think that being an introvert is something that needs to be fixed. As soon as RJ said he liked to be outside in nature, I knew this kid was just an introvert who simply needed some time and breathing room. 

The interesting thing for me is that it would be easy to think Jacob was trying to be the typical "white savior" but we know that for all his "wokeness" (I hate that term) he would die for any one of his kids. His desire to help RJ came from a place of genuine concern but he has blind spots. 

That's the thing I appreciate about this show. Whatever weirdness we see from these characters, we know that each one of them truly cares about these children. Even Ava. We know for all her bougie behavior she actually buys clothes for the kids she knows need them.

Edited Yest. at 04:40 PM by marceline

[peeayebee]

14 hours ago, Galileo908 said:

I feel like Eric Andre didn't get to do much, just react to Mr. Johnson. Unless he's in more episodes this season, but I don't know.

I could be wrong, but I'm assuming he's going to be in more eps. Like you said, he didn't get to do much. I did like their interactions, so hopefully he'll be back.

11 hours ago, possibilities said:

I'm worried about RJ! He seems genuinely depressed.  Did Jacob say what his grades are like? If he was failing at his school work, they might be able to test him for a learning disability, but it seems like his problem is more emotional or social than academic. Why yes, I'm taking it seriously! It was a more interesting story for me than any of the others, and also they didn't resolve it, so I think the show itself is building it as significant.

Ava said his father had a stressed(?) face, so maybe there's trouble at home. Maybe his father can't work or doesn't have a job. That would be stressful for RJ, as well as something he might want to hide.

Quote

Ava's thing with the tech guy... sigh. Why does he like her? So far he seems smart, respectful, grounded. So I don't get it.

First off, she's attractive. But maybe he also likes strong women and even sees a hidden vulnerability.

Loved at the beginning when the guy was talking to Ava, and Mr Johnson was cleaning the glass very squeakily. Cedric the Jani-taynor. 

I also liked how in the podcast, Jaden and Aaliyah were covering for RJ.

Gregory to Jacob: So you think just anyone can do this job? *ding DING ding DING*

I'm with Gregory about chocolate-covered raisins. Not that raisins are ruined by the chocolate, but that the two don't belong together. Yuck.

Gregory saying to Barbara, "Oh, and you just HAD to sing," was funny.

I wasn't crazy about the storyline with Janine and the practice tests. 

[possibilities]

I'm a nature-loving introvert! I live where bears walk the neighborhood. But I was also a nerd in school. RJ just seemed unhappy, to me. It would be very interesting if it turns out he's fine, and it becomes a lesson on not bothering introverts who just need space, though.

[Annber03]

Also an introvert, and yeah, I thought the same thing regarding RJ. Some kids just prefer to be by themselves or just don't feel comfortable engaging in group settings, for various reasons. Nothing wrong with that so long as RJ's fine with it - if he's not big on contributing to class discusions, maybe Jacob can find other ways for him to show he's engaged with the material in a one-on-one setting or something.

I do agree, though, that Jacob does mean well with his concern, and I do like him trying to help his students as he does. I hope he can fiigure out something that works for RJ

(LOL at him quoting "Survivor".)

Aw, Janine with the tests. I get her reaction - even if there's other factors involved, it'd still be easy to take it personally as a teacher. I'd probably feel the same way, though I don't know that I'd try to do the test again like she did :p. 

But the "different method" suggestion makes a lot of sense, so hopefully she can find a new system that works and helps the kids. And also find a way to deal with her emotions over feeling like she's failng her students - I love how Gregory reacted to her obsessiveness over this :p. 

I love that Mr. Johnson's figured out a way to remove permanent marker from desks :p. I too thought the trainee looked famliiar, good to get his name. 

I still say IT guy looks a LOT like Shemar Moore. Ava being all flustered around him Is oddly cute and I like how she's trying to ask the others for help, in her own Ava way :D. 

[Bulldog]

The bus driver is my new favorite character. Good grief, Jacob can be insufferable at times. 

[kathyk2]

5 hours ago, Annber03 said:

Also an introvert, and yeah, I thought the same thing regarding RJ. Some kids just prefer to be by themselves or just don't feel comfortable engaging in group settings, for various reasons. Nothing wrong with that so long as RJ's fine with it - if he's not big on contributing to class discusions, maybe Jacob can find other ways for him to show he's engaged with the material in a one-on-one setting or something.

I do agree, though, that Jacob does mean well with his concern, and I do like him trying to help his students as he does. I hope he can fiigure out something that works for RJ

(LOL at him quoting "Survivor".)

Aw, Janine with the tests. I get her reaction - even if there's other factors involved, it'd still be easy to take it personally as a teacher. I'd probably feel the same way, though I don't know that I'd try to do the test again like she did :p. 

But the "different method" suggestion makes a lot of sense, so hopefully she can find a new system that works and helps the kids. And also find a way to deal with her emotions over feeling like she's failng her students - I love how Gregory reacted to her obsessiveness over this :p. 

I love that Mr. Johnson's figured out a way to remove permanent marker from desks :p. I too thought the trainee looked famliiar, good to get his name. 

I still say IT guy looks a LOT like Shemar Moore. Ava being all flustered around him Is oddly cute and I like how she's trying to ask the others for help, in her own Ava way :D. 

I felt bad for Janine she thrives on having a routine so learning a new teaching method would be hard her. Ava used to be poor why does she not know how to date a poor person?

[Badsamaritan]

9 hours ago, kathyk2 said:

I felt bad for Janine she thrives on having a routine so learning a new teaching method would be hard her. Ava used to be poor why does she not know how to date a poor person?

I think Ava has been dating men with money for a long time, and has forgotten what it's like to date a regular guy. She's using 'poor' very loosely because to her, if they're not rich, they're poor lol. There's no 'middle class' for her, it's either one extreme or the other, and for me that tracks with her character. 

And I agree, why wouldn't O'Shon be attracted to her? She's obviously been in other relationships (with only wealthy men) so she's bringing something to the table. And, I think he really liked how she was standing up for Abbott kids and trying to get them what they need. It's the reason he's gone along with it and didn't report the new computers the golf course folks bought. Ava is a pill for sure, but we've also seen her grow over these past seasons. And she does care about the kids. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Edited to add:

If we know nothing else about Ava, we do know she is about her bag, as evidenced by her many side hustles. She might be trying to make sure O'Shon, even though he's not wealthy, also stands on business. Because that is a huge part of her personality, she does need to make sure he respects that about her. 

Edited 4 hours ago by Badsamaritan

[marceline]

On 1/16/2025 at 12:25 AM, possibilities said:

Ava's thing with the tech guy... sigh. Why does he like her? So far he seems smart, respectful, grounded. So I don't get it.

He's probably used to women throwing themselves at him. Remember Inez turning up the thermostat in the library so he would take off his jacket? 😁

[Ilovepie]

Is it a Philly thing to encourage violence against innocent people? I didn't like people (including the bus driver whose job it is to deliver him to his correct stop!) cheering Jacob getting kicked off the bus in an unsafe neighborhood. It reminded me of my other least favorite episode this season when the whole school thought a parent beating up Gregory was entertainment. Yes Jacob can be a lot, but he's always nice and pleasant. Why couldn't the bus driver just tell him he needed to concentrate and to have a seat? I didn't find any of this funny.

I am kind of loving Ava's thing with the tech guy. He seems to have her figured out. It's nice to see her flustered. I loved Janine's face to the camera when they were in her classroom.