Teachers accused in test-taking fraud that spans three states, 15 years

[BMT (RIP)]

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/11/25...#ixzz2DGlM8Hvv

BMT

[Pete]

I'd say it's about time to print out a picture of the test taker that's printed onto the test results - like a small drivers license.

The person must then submit an original (the card) when they apply for a job. Just a quick glance would confirm the identity.

Of course if you lost the original the testing agency would be required to give you another - for a small fee.

[Trapper John]

Shared this with the XO (wife & elementary school teacher 31 yr) Reminds me why I didn't go into academia. As a senior grad student, I overheard some undergrads complaining about their recently posted grades. One of the morons was upset that the student he was copying from got the answers wrong That did it for me and I am so glad that I didn't choose an academic career - I probably would be in jail today for manslaughter

[Richard]

I took those certification exams as required in Texas for professional development, pedagogy, and professional responsibilities, and grade level and subject matter specific subject areas, as well as the TEA required ExCET and TAKS for graduating high schoolers. I passed with all scores above 90% as they are not especially difficult for anyone who went through a valid teacher certification preparatory program (mine was through DISD and Texas Woman's University out of Denton who has a nationally recognized educator prep program) and has adequate reasoning and test taking skills.

Taking these tests are like taking the SAT or ACT - registration and fees per exam, specified testing date and center (mine was at Mesquite High School), and picture ID. The testing is on a Saturday and administered by local teachers hired by the ETS to administer them as with the SAT/ACT and supervised by the ETS out of Princeton, NJ.

IMO and experience, not everyone can be a teacher...nor should they. I think this news article validates just one of the many reasons why.

And TJ, if you're reading this and understand what I am saying - thank a teacher.

Richard

[Trapper John]

Originally Posted by Richard

I took those certification exams as required in Texas for professional development, pedagogy, and professional responsibilities, and grade level and subject matter specific subject areas, as well as the TEA required ExCET and TAKS for graduating high schoolers. I passed with all scores above 90% as they are not especially difficult for anyone who went through a valid teacher certification preparatory program (mine was through DISD and Texas Woman's University out of Denton who has a nationally recognized educator prep program) and has adequate reasoning and test taking skills.

Taking these tests are like taking the SAT or ACT - registration and fees per exam, specified testing date and center (mine was at Mesquite High School), and picture ID. The testing is on a Saturday and administered by local teachers hired by the ETS to administer them as with the SAT/ACT and supervised by the ETS out of Princeton, NJ.

IMO and experience, not everyone can be a teacher...nor should they. I think this news article validates just one of the many reasons why.

And TJ, if you're reading this and understand what I am saying - thank a teacher.

Richard

I do every day and sometimes she "thanks" me back

[Totentanz]

Academic dishonesty is a much larger problem than most want to face. It's truly disappointing to see how much stock is put into a degree and how many people obtain theirs without doing any of the work.

[Diablo]

But the guys at Freakonomics beat me to it. My bet, having not clicked the link above, is the vast majority of the states in question have also adopted some form of teacher incentives. And guess what? They pay. So when you are a teacher who is faced with getting fired or transferred or getting a bonus to your $32,000 salary guess what you do? Help that dummy pass- or all 35 of the dummies.
Now, why are they so effin' dumb? Long list to be sure, but lets put multigenerational poverty, welfare as a way of life for your entire extended family, and no way out of your poor neighborhood that you have ever witnessed other than the one kid who got a scholarship for playing a sport at the top of the list. Then, and only after getting through 14 years in the above cluster____ do you arrive in my classroom. Then I am expected to turn you into a college ready student. At least with FID the curriculum is hands on for God's sake. So while I don't support these teachers, I can see them doing it. And with NCLB they will do it or be on the unemployment line with often few real skills and an English degree.
And yes, I live it daily. Urban school, 90% of my students are on welfare, get free lunch, and live in single parent families. And because I know you all will love this part: roughly 30% of my little darlings are "undocumented" aka illegals, but I can't say that at work either. Strangely the past 4 of 5 valedictorians have been "undocumented" so at least they see the value of education.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention my student who is 17, can't read, and is new to my class after 2 years of juvenile detention. His crime? Shooting at our local LEOs when they raided his dad's house for drugs.
Sorry, the bell just rang....
I teach Auto Shop and truly love my job. My students respect me and I them. Even when I don't agree with their often poor choices. My victories are small and few, but they matter.
Rant off

[afchic]

Originally Posted by Diablo

But the guys at Freakonomics beat me to it. My bet, having not clicked the link above, is the vast majority of the states in question have also adopted some form of teacher incentives. And guess what? They pay. So when you are a teacher who is faced with getting fired or transferred or getting a bonus to your $32,000 salary guess what you do? Help that dummy pass- or all 35 of the dummies. Now, why are they so effin' dumb? Long list to be sure, but lets put multigenerational poverty, welfare as a way of life for your entire extended family, and no way out of your poor neighborhood that you have ever witnessed other than the one kid who got a scholarship for playing a sport at the top of the list. Then, and only after getting through 14 years in the above cluster____ do you arrive in my classroom. Then I am expected to turn you into a college ready student. At least with FID the curriculum is hands on for God's sake. So while I don't support these teachers, I can see them doing it. And with NCLB they will do it or be on the unemployment line with often few real skills and an English degree.
And yes, I live it daily. Urban school, 90% of my students are on welfare, get free lunch, and live in single parent families. And because I know you all will love this part: roughly 30% of my little darlings are "undocumented" aka illegals, but I can't say that at work either. Strangely the past 4 of 5 valedictorians have been "undocumented" so at least they see the value of education.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention my student who is 17, can't read, and is new to my class after 2 years of juvenile detention. His crime? Shooting at our local LEOs when they raided his dad's house for drugs.
Sorry, the bell just rang....
I teach Auto Shop and truly love my job. My students respect me and I them. Even when I don't agree with their often poor choices. My victories are small and few, but they matter.
Rant off

Somehow, the money wouldn't be worth my integrity.

[Streck-Fu]

Originally Posted by afchic

Somehow, the money wouldn't be worth my integrity.

I've had friends that were teachers and my wife took an IA (Instructor Assistant) position at or boys' elementary school.

We are both pretty shocked at the realities of teaching. There just isn't any time for genuine dedicated instruction and guidance.

I can empathize with those teachers that do what they can for the few kids that they can teach. But with school funding tied to a bureaucracy devised testing standard where the the full brunt of responsibility lies with the teacher and none on the student or parents there is little help for them.

[afchic]

Originally Posted by Streck-Fu

I've had friends that were teachers and my wife took an IA (Instructor Assistant) position at or boys' elementary school.

We are both pretty shocked at the realities of teaching. There just isn't any time for genuine dedicated instruction and guidance. I can empathize with those teachers that do what they can for the few kids that they can teach. But with school funding tied to a bureaucracy devised testing standard where the the full brunt of responsibility lies with the teacher and none on the student or parents there is little help for them.

So what is it exactly they are doing?

Until teachers are willing to take on some (not all) of the responsibility for what happens to their students, things will continue on in the same vein. That is why local districts need to enforce teaching standards. Get rid of the teachers that are there simply for a paycheck, and give raises to those that can actually get something out of their students.

I firmly agree that parents are the key to a student's education. But teachers bear some of the responsibilty as well.

[ZonieDiver]

Originally Posted by Diablo

.. .My bet, having not clicked the link above...

While you had a very nice, informative post, had you bothered to "click the link above", you would have discovered that the article was about teachers-in-training cheating on the tests that allow them to be certified as teachers, and not about teachers somehow cheating FOR their students, or allowing student cheating.

We click on links here before we post in those threads. It's just what we do to foster informed discussion/debate.

Thanks.

[Diablo]

I see that I was quick to pull the trigger. The article did ultimately touch on the rampant cheating at every level of our educational system. I would still argue-strongly- that the reason for the cheating- at all levels- especially for a teacher to cheat it the "highly qualified teacher" standard enumerated under NCLB (No Child Left Behind) that will ultimately lead to the same fired or bonus scenario laid out in my post above. The Praxis exam is what many, but not all, states are using to define a "highly qualified teacher" for the purposes of NCLB. How's that for a 10th Amendment quandary? The Feds set the standard, but the states set the manner in which the standard is met. Here in CA we are spared to Praxis, yet have another even more twisted bureaucratic hades to navigate. And while I deserve the blast for having not read the article link, I stand behind the drivers of the cheating detailed above. Too much to loose, and everything to gain.
To take the article and this discussion further, lets consider SAT scores vs. grades. Most people here are at least familiar with the SAT tests for college admission. This test has been as solidly benchmarked over time as any test can be. Google the many studies if you like, but its a pretty solid what the fuck do you know test. And yes, old SAT, new SAT, pretty well referenced vs. IQ and cultural literacy so lets agree its a good baseline over time. Good enough the most employers including the CIA and FBI substitute it as an IQ test before hiring. Now lets compare grades to SAT scores. In the past 30 years the SAT scores have been stable when normed against socioeconomic factors, i.e. rich white kids from homes where both parents are college grads do better than urban minority youth whose parents don't have as high an education level. The grades of students nationwide at all socioeconomic levels have increased. The grade inflation is almost an entire grade point. So there's your cheating for you. Everyone reading this, with the exception of the Viet Nam era folks have benefited from this inflation. I would be very curious to know what ASVAB scores have done over time vs. GPA if anybody here can speak to that.

And now I am off to meet our on campus LEO to see about my gang student who was shot over the holiday weekend while at a party. But does afchic see that as my problem too?

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Diablo

And now I am off to meet our on campus LEO to see about my gang student who was shot over the holiday weekend while at a party. But does afchic see that as my problem too?

Marksmanship issue?

TR

[Diablo]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Marksmanship issue?

TR

His opposing color- in this case red- was able to hit what he was aiming(?) at

[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by afchic

Until teachers are willing to take on some (not all) of the responsibility for what happens to their students, things will continue on in the same vain. That is why local districts need to enforce teaching standards. Get rid of the teachers that are there simply for a paycheck, and give raises to those that can actually get something out of their students.

I firmly agree that parents are the key to a student's education. But teachers bear some of the responsibility as well.

Originally Posted by Diablo

And now I am off to meet our on campus LEO to see about my gang student who was shot over the holiday weekend while at a party. But does afchic see that as my problem too?

IMO, it isn't just linked articles that you're not reading very carefully.