Cheating in the City

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bs-md-ci-city-cheating-schools-20110621,0,5931688.story?page=1

In the Baltimore Sun on Thursday a report came out stating that an investigation into several Baltimore City schools has come up with at least two instances of cheating on the MSA. The two schools were Abbottston Elementary and Fort Worthington Elementary. This information comes out of an 18-month investigation of a number of city schools. Two other schools are still under investigation.

It is sad to think that any progress made on the MSA this year by the city as a whole will be overshadowed by these 2 (or possibly more) schools that made a terrible decision to tamper with and alter student tests. At the same time though, it is hard for me to be upset or even mildly surprised by this news. Every single year we read of schools or even entire school districts that try and manipulate the data in their favor. But honestly, can you really blame them?

Well, of course you can, and no, I do not support cheating, and this is certainly not an apology for the principals who were caught. However, it makes me think about what would drive someone to risk their entire professional career to change an 8 year olds test answers. Most principals, I would argue, are very intelligent individuals (although it may not always appear to be the case). And if such an intelligent individual has come to the conclusion that their only hope at keeping his or her job and receiving federal funding next year is to attempt to cheat the system, then maybe the nexus of the problem lies elsewhere…perhaps in the crushing pressure that comes from NCLB and these tests.

Again, in no way am I making excuses for these principals; what they did is atrocious and inexcusable and they deserve whatever punishment they receive, but is this going to be the last time we here of cheating on standardized tests? Not a chance. The fingers will be pointed at the principals (sorry, former principals) of these two schools and the larger problem -- the yolk put on the shoulders of public education by these tests -- will continue on.