The Hive Mind

So, I know that the youth of today is hyperconnected and in constant electronic contact, but this year it really has been striking.  There is a gaggle of junior girls (most of whom I teach but not all!) and if I tell pretty much anything to any one of them, they all know it  - pretty much instantaneously.  I have taken to referring them as the "Hive Mind".

After finally getting used to it and even coming to count on it, I was still surprised at the following sequence of events.  One-of-the-Hive was taking a late exam in the science office and had to explain to another science teacher that the exam marked "For mgsinθ" was not her (a different member of the Hive whose classroom nickname was obviously coined during our analysis of the inclined plane (Fun stuff happens in physics class!)).  She took the exam and left the office.  Shortly afterwards (like 2 minutes later), other members-of-the-Hive (including mgsinθ) walked in.  Excitedly, I started to tell her the story of how someone had tried to give her exam to the other student.  Very cooly, they informed me that they already know the story.  As I sat there stunned at the speed of the Hive Mind network, the test-taker came back in.  When I asked her incredulously, "Did you just start texting as soon as you walked out of the office?"  She looked at me like I was a fool and said, "No, I just ran into them in the hall just now."  Oh, right - that makes more sense...

That's all the tea I have for today...

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update:  Central Hive Members, one year later on Halloween: