Cheating? Academic dishonesty?

[DynoReads]

I need some advice. I work in a small school, most of the students are very bright but have some kind of issue, like ADHD, dislexia or anxiety, that keep them from reaching their full potential in bigger schools. I’m required to send certain students to support services for assistance taking tests, such as a quiet place, or having the test read. We had a quiz today, and as required I sent specific students. 2 classes later a student asks if that period had a quiz too, because the student support advisors had been giving out answers to some kids taking tests. To me this is cheating. 

 

What do do you think, is a teacher or staff member giving out answers cheating?

[mogwhy]

personally, I think it needs a bit more investigation, but yes it smacks of cheating. My son need accommodations in taking test, and it was stated and repeated often that staff were not allowed to give answer or indicate if the answer the student gave was right or wrong.

[Defiance19]

The job of the teacher, staff or aide is to make sure that the student has everything they need in order to perform at their best level. Giving out the answers is cheating. 

It cheats the child, the staff and the system that is put in place.

We teachers rely on the results of those test scores, and they figure into structuring the goals that need to be met. If a child is testing high then the level of care can fall short if we don’t have the whole picture. Not all these kids who need help have associated behavioral problems, so if an IEP shows improvement why should we keep a service. 

The goal is to enrich the child so they can develop the skills they struggle with. It’s a complete disservice to hand out answers. 

 

 

[Valkyrie]

It's absolutely cheating.  Defiance explained it perfectly. Those "advisors" should be reported.  

[mollyhousemouse]

it is most definitely cheating!

the test is an assessment tool for the teacher, you, to see how much of what you've presented has "taken," or stuck with the student.  having the aide give answers gives false data for the teacher. the higher test score may lead you to move to the next level, the next topic, which may or may not build on what the test was about.  now the student, or students, who were given the answers are at an even greater deficit.

i am totally behind giving the student the tools to succeed, the quiet place or the test being read that you mention, but handing out answers? no not hardly!

if i were the parent in that situation, i'd also be a little pissed!  how many other tests has this aide "helped" little Sally with and how far behind is she now?

having just gone through a charge of academic dishonesty with Number Two Son (proved false, received a hand signed apology from said teacher) this pokes a raw spot

i hope that you are able to get this rectified @DynoReads

[Former Member]

I think there have been teachers prosecuted for cheating on STAR tests (changing answers on completed tests) and others have been fired. There have been major scandals involving systemic cheating in schools or even school districts. Of course, the reasons for the deception was different because it involved funding and teacher pay, but the principle is the same.

 

I agree that the real victims are the kids.

[CassieQ]

Sounds like it.  Maybe if the teachers are reading out the answers for the student to chose, it would be okay, but outright telling students that the correct answer is A, then yes, that's is definitely wrong.

[Brayon]

13 hours ago, DynoReads said:

What do do you think, is a teacher or staff member giving out answers cheating?

Short answer: Yes.

 

I'd investigate it, and see exactly what the student support services were actually doing. If they were handing out answers, then taking it to the next level would be the next step.

[TetRefine]

As a special education teacher, yes I'd definitely say this is cheating. I work with a lot of kids as well who need different supports when taking tests, but never does it include giving them answers or hints. The supports are supposed to put them on a level playing field with their general education peers, not give them an unfair advantage. 

[DynoReads]

Thanks Everyone. Even if I went to the principal, nothing will happen. I previously reported support services for giving extra support note listed in the education plan. Nothing came of it.

[Cia]

That is so frustrating! Sounds like they need to talk with the staff about not being mommies. It's something we say a lot at work (and I've always been the mean mom to push my kids to be independent and self-advocate anyway). Special needs students don't always need to get good grades or get a pass handed to them because that doesn't help them face the reality that they have to work harder than others just to keep up and always will. In my high needs SIS program this week, I had to verbally review a test with a group of 5 students, and we went off who knew the answer and agreement from the others, or we looked it up in the notes I took and provided each one to paste into their course notebooks as well as the unit study guide--but all the students who stayed in the class were allowed to take the test open book as well. But other times, when our SPED kids are taking measurement assessments, we offer no assistance because we have to know what they know--not just give them a pass or "lead" them to the right information.

[Graeme]

While it is probably cheating, it depends on who owns the test and who takes responsibility for passing this information on. I remember being told of a teacher at my old school (back in the 70s) who spent several periods going through practise questions with the students, with a test to follow. The test was exactly the same questions...

 

The teacher in question said it wasn't something they could do very often, but it was a deliberate decision on their behalf to do what they did. It was their students, their subject, and their responsibility to make sure the students learnt the material.

 

Regarding what the student aides did, if they did it with the teacher's blessing, and if it wasn't for external qualifications (ie. it was an internal test set by the teacher), then, no, it's not cheating. However, that's a lot of ifs. That's why I said it's probbaly cheating, but it's not certain.

Edited January 27, 2018 by Graeme