ABC NEWS Live
[NEW WORDS]
♧ cheat : v. 속이다, 부정행위를 하다, 커닝하다
♧ standardized test : n. 표준시험
♧ afterward : ad. 후에, 나중에, 그 후에
♧ charge : n. 혐의, 비난, 부담, 요금
♧ foresee : v. 예견하다
♧ pass muster : v. 검열에 통과하다, 합격하다, 목적에 맞다
♧ crop up : v. 갑자기 나타나다/생기다, (문제 등이) 일어나다, 제기되다
♧ identical to : a. 동일한, 똑같은
♧ in advance : a. 미리, 앞서서
♧ proctor : n. 감독관, 학생감
♧ reprimand : n. 견책, 징계 -v. 꾸짖다, 질책하다, 견책/징계하다
♧ rap : n. 범죄 용의, 질책, 비난
There was report in the Los Angeles times today that says two hundred teachers in California have been investigated for helping their students cheat on standardized tests. Educators say the teachers have been under enormous pressure to maintain high test scores. And ABC's Judy Muller reports tonight that this is happening in California and elsewhere as well.
The cheating ranges from whispering answers to students during testing to erasing and changing answers afterwards. Charges of cheating have been proven against seventy-five California teachers so far. Other teachers are expressing anger, but not surprised.
"Certainly I think these teachers will be fired. But, shock? No."
"I'm disappointed, a bit embarrassed. But at the same time, I could understand and I could see you can kind of foresee this happening."
Why? Some educators point to pressure created by the new federal law known as "No Child Left Behind." If a school fails to pass muster on state standardized test, it may lose federal funds. "Teachers face the possibility of their school being closed, of themselves losing jobs, of their students not being passed to the next grade or graduating. All are on the basis of the standardized test score"
Similar reports have cropped up all over the country. In ~~ Kansas, a teacher was caught giving a practice test almost identical to the real test. In Milwaukee, a teacher gave students answers in advance. And in the Chicago suburbs, students reported that their teacher had changed their answers.
A recent study of Chicago schools found that teacher cheating could be occurring in five percent of classrooms. The study's authors recommended that schools hire proctors to oversee the testing.
"I think that's a great idea, but it's not going to happen."
"Why not?"
"Um. There's no money for that. There needs to be training."
Only a few of the teachers caught cheating in California have been fired. Most have received reprimands. Other teachers worry about the impact on the professions.
"Too bad that a few teachers will give all of us a bad rap."
A bad rap under the pressure for high standards.
Judy Muller, ABC News, Los Angeles.