NY - Woman to become NY firefighter despite failing crucial fitness test

[Dana]

What if they had the following answers:
A) “The fire was located on the lower level, in the rear.”
B) “The fire was located in the southeast corner of the lower level.”
C) “The fire was located in the southeast corner of the basement.”
D) “The fire was located in the southwest corner of the basement.”

Is the C still a correct answer? Notice I didn't change a word in choice C.

Both C and D would be correct

 

[EllieBee]

Both C and D would be correct

Unless it was the Northwest corner.

 

[Dana]

The Northwest corner was not an option, therefore does not apply.

Are we all arguing just to be arguing or interested in this topic? This written question has nothing to do with the topic.

 

[EllieBee]

The Northwest corner was not an option, therefore does not apply.

Are we all arguing just to be arguing or interested in this topic? This written question has nothing to do with the topic.

As I learned from our mods.....don't reply if you think the post is stupid-

Scroll and roll.

Personally I think it is a valid discussion. Many tests are designed to assess deductive reasoning even if that is not the advertised intent. I find it fascinating.

 

[screecher]

Anyone know how long this newbie was on the list?

 

[panthera]

I wasn't saying "simple" as in "easy". I was saying that sometimes just getting to the meat of it without extraneous details that may or may not be accurate would be the more prudent choice in an emergency.

Like when you call 911. They want the least amount of detail that gives the most vital info.

BBM

Exactly, and the most specific information can be the geographical location such as with a traffic accident, or building on fire, etc. "the southeast corner of the intersection of"....which will let the dispatcher know which direction emergency personnel (whether the fire department, paramedics or police) should approach the scene from.

MOO

 

[Momoffourboys]

...but she didn't fail the written test, did she?
She failed to complete the physical exam in the time given AND required oxygen. I mean, seriously. Those are the FDNY standards. Not just for her. For all firefighters. Including the other female firefighters.

 

[KaaBoom]

From the article, she didn't fail one part of the test. She could complete all parts but she could NOT do it fast enough and she required extra oxygen to complete it.

The time limit was 17 minutes and her best time was 22 minutes. The oxygen thing is also worrisome. She is also 4 years OLDER than the cutoff. Whole thing just stinks, she not only expects special treatment regarding her age but then she can't even pass the physical test!

What is your source that she is too old?

 

[Nova]

From the article, she didn't fail one part of the test. She could complete all parts but she could NOT do it fast enough and she required extra oxygen to complete it.

The time limit was 17 minutes and her best time was 22 minutes. The oxygen thing is also worrisome. She is also 4 years OLDER than the cutoff. Whole thing just stinks, she not only expects special treatment regarding her age but then she can't even pass the physical test!

As I understand it, she and others applied when they were still under the age limit. However, the FDNY instituted a hiring freeze while they considered the issues of women in the department. During that time, the woman's application remained on hold.

She did not get special treatment on that score.

 

[Nova]

What is your source that she is too old?

You can find it somewhere above. The age limit is 29; the woman in question is 33. But those are starting ages, not mandatory retirement ages.

As I recall the source, the woman applied in time, but she had to wait four years to start her training.

 

[SophieRose]

Because there was a hiring freeze form 2007- 2011 because of the discrimination lawsuit on the written test, some of the applicants who took the 2007 test (as Wax did) aged out of the system when the test was given again in early 2012. To remedy this (not just for Wax), the age cutoff was changed from 29 to 35 in 2010. The written test is only given every four years.

 

[Nova]

Nova you are always the voice for the "oppressed" people (or those that identify as oppressed). You have also pointed out that the feelings of the oppressed should count more heavily than the oppressors.

In this case women in general are supposedly being discriminated against so shouldn't their views on this topic count more than the views of others?

Seems to me MOST women see the value of selecting the strongest and most physically fit candidates for this job. When it comes to saving our kids and pets during a fire the gender of the firefight matters far less than their ABILITY to do all aspects of the job!

But, sonya, we haven't seen any evidence that the NYFD test is actually a fair test of firefighting ability--whether judged by women or men. Now I see the test wasn't even required until 2008. Why are posters assuming it's a fair and necessary exam?

 

[KaaBoom]

The first Asian-American female on the NYFD. She got a 100% on the physical exam.

[video=youtube;24_db9v1ixw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24_db9v1ixw[/video]

 

[SophieRose]

The first Asian-American female on the NYFD. She got a 100% on the physical exam.

[video=youtube;24_db9v1ixw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24_db9v1ixw[/video]

She became a firefighter in 2005, before passing FST became mandatory.

Article from 2014
http://www.newsday.com/news/new-yor...efighters-in-this-year-s-fdny-class-1.8317143

Ages of new hires range from 24 to 33 and they include two African-American women, a Hispanic and a Caucasian woman, said Sarinya Srisakul, president of the United Women Firefighters and a nine-year veteran of the Department, who noted that the FDNY suffers "the worst gender disparity in the country" for major metropolitan fire departments.

 

[screecher]

You can find it somewhere above. The age limit is 29; the woman in question is 33. But those are starting ages, not mandatory retirement ages.

As I recall the source, the woman applied in time, but she had to wait four years to start her training.

So Wall had FOUR years to train and get fit. On her own or with a trainer. FOUR FREAKIN' YEARS to get fit. So she could pass the FST.

I do wonder what her score was on the civil service exam and what number she was listed as.

 

[jjenny]

So Wall had FOUR years to train and get fit. On her own or with a trainer. FOUR FREAKIN' YEARS to get fit. So she could pass the FST.

I do wonder what her score was on the civil service exam and what number she was listed as.

The test is very physically demanding. She is fit. She still can't do it.

 

[Lulu14]

I am not the one confused by the test.
The question and answer set is very poorly written. The answer that is supposedly correct could be factually wrong.
They don't provide necessary information in the question to pick C. Sure it gives the most details. But there is no information on whether this detail is correct.

OMG, they did not want you to pick up the "correct" answer, because all of them were correct. A, B, C, and D were used to describe the same corner. They wanted one to pick up the answer which is the most objective, and leaves the least room for interpretation.

 

[screecher]

The test is very physically demanding. She is fit. She still can't do it.

:facepalm:

Obviously, not fit enough. Does she even lift?

Oh, do you know if she was the ONLY woman who F A I L E D the FST to be H I R E D? Or were there others?
Somehow, I think she was O N L Y woman who failed the FST, but was hired regardless.
The other three woman passed the FST, correct?

 

[screecher]

I'm curious. I wonder if there were male candidates who failed the FST and were hired, in spite of it.

 

[jjenny]

OMG, they did not want you to pick up the "correct" answer, because all of them were correct. A, B, C, and D were used to describe the same corner. They wanted one to pick up the answer which is the most objective, and leaves the least room for interpretation.

So they wanted you to pick the wrong answer? What kind of multiple choice exam is that?