MEDIUM RARE by Jim Rarey

June 15, 2000

IS TEACHER CHEATING INEVITABLE?

Nationwide there has never been more pressure on teachers to report good or improving grades for their students. The results of standardized testing in many states, including Michigan, are a sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of school districts as they fight to keep "local" control of their districts.

In Michigan, the state can take over school districts that fail to meet state criteria three years in a row. The Detroit School District is in the throes of a state takeover now.

Under criteria proposed in Lansing, 14 districts throughout the state would be classified as "failing’ and be candidates for takeover.

In a recent Detroit News article it was revealed that teachers and/or school administrators have been caught changing test grades or helping students with the tests in six states. One of the most embarrassing was a district in Ohio that had been cited by President Clinton for its improvement in test scores. In Texas, 18 school officials have been indicted by a grand jury for falsifying test results.

Michigan uses cash awards of up to $1,000 to teachers in districts where classes meet or exceed state standards Along with the threat of a state takeover; this constitutes the classic "carrot and stick" approach to improving test scores.

In Wayne County, this year’s MEAP tests results were mixed but with a general trend of lower scores than last year. With a couple of notable exceptions, 7^th grade reading scores went down in 29 of the 34 districts in Wayne County. Inkster scores went up an astounding 490% in 7^th grade reading from 11% in 1999 to 65% this year meeting state standards. Romulus schools lost ground in three of the four categories with less than 50% meeting state standards.

Since no cheating has been reported in Michigan, it may be that schools are "teaching to the test." Monty Neill, executive director of the National Center for Fair and Open Testing says, "In some ways, I would argue that is borderline cheating." He notes that it is encouraged by states and presidential candidates.

At any rate, without question, the use of standardized state testing (with the carrot and stick measures to coerce compliance) makes a mockery of the claim that curriculum content is controlled at the local level.

Permission is granted to reproduce this article in its entirety.

The author is a free lance writer based in Romulus, Michigan. He is a former newspaper editor and investigative reporter, a retired customs administrator and accountant, and a student of history and the U.S. Constitution.

If you would like to receive Medium Rare articles directly, please contact us at msutton828@provide.net. Although not necessary, we would appreciate an indication of the state or country in which you are located to give us an idea as to where our message is being received.