Students are frequently finding themselves under microscopes during testing time. Leaving their backpacks in front of the room and raising both arms so the teachers can check for hidden notes are just some of the ways students can prove they are not cheating. With so much emphasis on testing, it's hard to pick up a paper without finding an article on cheating. Even bottled water is under scrutiny just in case notes have been scribbled on the labels.
As Washington area students complete final exams, teachers are using whatever means possible to expose cheaters, or at least scare them off before they try. Although cheating has been monitored at least since the advent of the No. 2 pencil, many teachers and students say enforcement has become more aggressive than ever. No longer do teachers simply rearrange chairs or walk around the room to proctor a test.
The warfare and counter-warfare between teachers and pupils over cheating is perhaps the most tense undercurrent running through school culture. To guard the integrity of essays and term papers, teachers wield plagiarism detectors on Web sites such as Turnitin.com, which checks student papers against a database of other papers and journals. Catching cheaters during tests sometimes requires an artful approach, teachers said, and other times an iron fist.
Students have more options now when it comes to cheating. By creatively using their cell phones and iPods, they can have the correct answers and formulas readily available if a teacher isn't paying attention. With all of the buzz about cheating, teachers and students are aware that serious repercussions can result if students are caught cheating on big state mandated tests.
What about going back to the old days and using achievement tests to measure students' individual progress? Maybe taking some of the pressure off of test results could help alleviate some of the cheating. Of course, some students will always attempt to cheat. I was caught looking at a neighbor's paper during an algebra test in eighth grade. I remember how tempting it was to just look over and see his answers. The teacher saw me and gave me a look that said, "Shame on you." That was it for me. From that point on, I decided to keep my eyes on my own paper. The bottom line is you either learn the material or you don't. I am glad that the big testing push wasn't around back in my day. Teacher evaluations were stressful enough.