2205 Forest Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403 SurveyorWHS@gmail.com Volume 55, Number 2 November 18, 2011
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“I think that obviously something like this [scandal] coming out in public makes it seems like it’s necessarily an increase but there have been cases like this in the past… there is some evidence from various surveys that are being done that there does seem to be an I don’t care if the teacher’s increase in general in cheating in high schools right next to me, I’ll cheat. It’s and in colleges and in kids self-reporting,” said Duer. that easy. It’s just like look real However, Duer has his reservations. quick and just remember what “One part of me says that yeah, kids have always done this, you know, but another the hell is on their paper. part says that the issue about the importance of the college admissions test and how increasingly competitive it is to get into college suggests that it might be becoming more of an issue. I’m of mixed opinion about it.” Regardless of whether or not there is an increasing trend of cheating on college placement tests, the fact remains that it does happen. “I knew I wasn’t going to get caught,” said the student. “I had a smart girl to my left and a smart girl to my right and it was just perfect. And I kind of went from the left girls answers, switched to the right.” In regards to whether or not they felt guilty about cheating a test that some students go to great lengths in their preparations, the student had the following comment. “Not at all. [I don’t feel bad] at all. That’s Graphic by Katie Nunemaker and Alyssa Christian their problem, that’s my Nationwide cheating scandals prompt the question of how prevalent cheating on standardized tests is at Wash. opinion. I found a way to do it and they found a of a perfect storm, in a sense, that all of these way to do it themselves.” Cheating on college placement tests factors are coming into play,” said David Duer, The student, however, cautioned. has gained media attention with the recent Long a Wash language arts teacher and previous “You just get stupider every time you Island cheating scandal and has caused Warriors employee of the ACT. “I think there are many cheat... It’s not okay, at all, in any position, but to ask themselves whether cheating is a problem students who feel a lot of pressure and respond sometimes people got to do what they have to at Washington High School. to the pressure by taking what they see as the do,” said the student. “Everyone does it [cheat The Long Island cheating scandal was only option out and finding someone to take the ing]- in school in general- homework, tests, an example of surrogate testing, where a student test for them or copying off of other students.” students find a way around teachers and it’s has another person take the test for them, and The surrogate testing in Long Island bad... Every time you cheat, you just fall more has resulted in the arrest of over 35 students who prompts the question of whether cheating and more behind, that’s why people keep on either paid others to take the test for them, took trends in general are on the rise. cheating.” the test for others, or created fake IDs for the test
Alyssa Christian Editor-in-Chief
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Caught in the ACT
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taking impersonators. The Surveyor had the chance to sit down with a Wash student who had personal experience with the issue of cheating. “I didn’t have any motivation to do it and I didn’t study so I felt like I could just copy off someone and get a better score than I could’ve myself that day,” said the student. Lack of motivation might not be the only factor that is encouraging students to cheat. “The increased cost of education, the difficulties with the economy, I mean, it’s kind
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25% of Wash students surveyed have thought about cheating on a standardized test. 47% would cheat if they were guaranteed to never be caught. 12% admitted to cheating on a standardized test. 18% believe cheating is a problem at Wash. 46% viewed cheating as “morally wrong but sometimes justifed.”
Inside this Issue n e w s
o p i n i o n s
f o c u s
p r o f i l e s
a & e
s p o r t s
Pages 2-3
Pages 4-5
Pages 6-7
Page 8
Pages 9-10
Page 11