IMPRESS UPON STUDENTS THE IMPORTANCE OF HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS: WHEN THEY CHEAT THEY CHEAT ONLY THEMSELVES. IF THEY ARE CAUGHT CHEATING, THE PROCTOR MUST BE BLAMED FOR LAX SUPERVISION.
INTRASCHOOL COMMUNICATION
FROM: Room 304
TO: Room 508
Dear Bea
Just got Admiral's directive on Midterm proctoringwith emphasis on marks and warnings against cheating. Cause and effect? I asked my kids to write down how they feel about marks and exams; am eager to read what they have to say. As for cheating, it seems to me thatwatched by hawk-eyed proctoreven if they had no intention to cheat, they'd be tempted to outwit him. Has anyone tried Honor System? I have a hunch that if they felt they were trusted, they'd rise to that trust.
I have three room proctoring assignments. Thank God I'm not a hall proctor!
What do I do if a kid is not covering with his left arm a paper which is not at right angles to his desk?
Syl.
INTRASCHOOL COMMUNICATION
FROM: 508
TO: 304
Dear Syl,
You either kill the kid or yourself.
Honor System would never work heretoo great a premium on the Mighty Mark, which determines whether or not a kid gets into college and causes parental pressures and senior breakdowns. This is true of academic youngsters; non-academic ones cheat pour le sport, as a matter of bravado, ingenuity or class status. Not to try to cheat is square.
Trend is changing, though, from person-to-person cheating to cooperative cheating and teamwork. Some of the excuses they offer, when detected, are: altruism, good sportsmanship, and "I'm not cheating, I'm left-handed!"
The kids put the burden on teacher: "What's the difference to you if you add another 10 points?" "Why did you fail me? I didn't do nothing!" The reply, of course, is: "That's just it." I'd like to know if you get any insights from their own comments on marks. You're a brave girl; we who are about to die salute you!
Bea
43. As Far As Marks
As far as marks, you can either better yourself or become lower. Marks can be fair or unfair depending on how the student answers questions from the teacher and whether or not the teacher asks the questions a student can answer.
Harry A. Kagan
(The Students Choice)
The passing mark should be "50" and not "65." Personaly I don't care but I worry about my "parents".
Chas. H. Robbins
1. On the pro side marks are good to the teacher. In showing how much the pupil listens to her.
2. On the con side marks are bad to the pupil. If he doesn't do so good on a test.
Teenager
Due to marks you can't not cheat.
Constant Cheater
Teachers too stingy with the marks and unfair in dishing them out. Questions are too prejudice and tests are too hard.
Edward Williams, Esq.
Do away with them, after all we can get along in our social life without marks.
Linda Rosen
Marks are important because for colleges or jobs they want your average and the average for the subject is made up of marks and the average for the term is made up of the average of the different subjects and the average for all terms is what they want.
Crammer
E.W. was copying from F.A. in French, also L.M. and L.R. And others!
Guess Who
Sometimes I do my homework and the teacher doesn't even mark it or I recite in class and it doesn't count, it's a waste of my time. Like when I studied the wrong thing.
A True Pupil
Why can't they scatter exams insted of making us study severall subjects the same night, it makes no sence?
Failing
I don't think talking out or horsing around should be avaraged in with the marks. A teacher may hate you, after all he's human, Ha-ha! and he might give you a zero in conduct. One zero for talking can pull down the whole average! But it doesn't matter anyhow, everybody gets promoted. Sooner or later!
Lou Martin
I wrote the same identical book report for two different English teachers I had last term. One gave me 91 and the other 72 on the same identical paper. Go figure it out!
I think class discussion should be counted and not tests because you can say what you really think and not what they want you to say.
Carole Blanca
Marks encourage us to cheat though I personally don't.
Honest Abe
You either pass or fail, no two ways about it.
Zero
Best marks go to cheaters and memorizers. Marks depend on memorizing and not on real knowledge. When you cram into your head for a test you may get a high mark but forget it the next day. That's not an education. I suggest just Good and Bad at the end of the term on report cards. Or maybe nothing.
Frank Allen
The reason my marks are low is because teachers call on me the one time I'm unprepaired and never all the times I am.
Disgusted
Exams show more the paper and not the individual.
Teachers give tests for spite and to get even. Or just to keep the class quiet. (This is the last time I'm writting to answer you!)
Marks should be based on class work and not on tests when the nerves take over. When talking in class (English) and the teacher listens to me I feel more courage to say it.
Jose Rodriguez
I use only 10% or less of what I study. It's a waist.
Dropout
Cheat is Teach backwards! ! !
Doodlebug
TO: ALL TEACHERS
FROM: JAMES J. MCHABE, ADM. ASST.
PLEASE PLOT AND HAND IN THE MEDIAN PERCENTILE CURVE BASED ON THE MIDTERM MARKS IN EACH OF YOUR CLASSES. IF A CLASS CURVE FALLS BELOW THE PERCENTILE OF FAILURES ALLOTTED TO IT, THE EFFICACY OF THE TEACHER MUST BE QUESTIONED. TEACHERS WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PASSING STUDENTS ARE TO BE COMMENDED.
JJ McH
44. Lavatory Escort
Wed., Nov. 25
Dear Ellen,
It looks as if I might be fired from the school systembecause I failed to provide a lavatory escort for Joe Ferone.
If this doesn't make sense, it's because it doesn't; but Ill start at the beginning. It was during Midterm Exams this morning. Midterms are really final exams, but they're given in November, with high pomp and protocol. Books piled in front of the room, seats in alternate rows, kids: "Can we copy?" "What's the answer to question 2?" "It's not fair! We never had this!" "How we supposed to answer this?" Confusion about money to be collected for Thanksgiving baskets; confusion about Midterm exam envelopes delivered to the wrong room; confusion about proctoring assignments; and the usual confusion about bells. Finally silence, except for the scratching of pens and shuffling of feet.