Thomson To Teachers: We Will Not Stand For Cheating

The latest scandal implicating two Queens teachers accused of cheating has elicited strong reactions from the boroughs Board of Education members.
Last week, Special Schools Investigator Ed Stancik revealed the results of a four-and-a-half month probe. In total nine teachers, including two fourth-grade Queens educators, were charged with assisting their students to cheat on statewide reading exams, in some cases, under duress. "We must nip this in the bud," said Queens Board of Education member Terri Thomson. "We are cheating these children. And, we will not stand for cheating."
The most serious case in Queens occurred at P.S. 7 in Elmhurst. Teacher Jane Nevis allegedly told her class to remember the terms "motivation" and "inspiration" as she previewed an essay question on Cubist art the day before the statewide English-language exam. Stancik said that Nevis then lectured her students on the same subject, giving her class an unfair advantage.
At P.S. 150 in Long Island City, fourth-grade teacher Joohi Chan allegedly raised her tone of voice as she emphasized certain words and phrases while reading a test section on reading comprehension. Stancik added that since his office could not determine whether intention was to cheat or not, he did demand her termination. In the other eight cases, the Special Investigator urged disciplinary action. "It send a terrible message in terms of (students) moral when they are seeing not only teachers who will cheat, but teachers who are trying to lure them or even force them into cheating," said Stancik.
Thomson believes that in some cases, the teachers are motivated to cheat by the increased pressure for students to perform well on standardized tests. The reading and math tests have long been a strong determinant on which students will be forced to attend summer schools, and ultimately, which schools will fall on the chancellors list of troubled schools.
"In any society, there will be people who try to skirt the rules," said Thomson. "But, it is unacceptable, no matter the pressure."
The scandal is the second to rock the Board of Education in less than six months. Last December, Stancik accused 52 teachers, principals, and school aides, including three Queens educators, of helping students cheat on standardized tests. Stancik would not reveal last week how many of the 52 schools implicated had been exonerated.
Despite the similarities between the two investigations, Thompson believes that cheating is far from rampant within the public school system. "I do not believe this is a widespread problem," said the Queens board member.
Community School Board member John Ciafone disagrees.
"This is an ongoing problem," said Ciafone, whose school board covers Long Island City and P.S. 150. "This is an indictment on the entire school system, and a serious violation of the publics trust."
Ciafone added that the educators involved "took public funds and misused them. They were only concerned about scores and performance. They cheated the children and cheated the community. We must send a message that this will not be tolerated."
Interim Schools Chancellor Harold Levy pledged to support Stanciks investigation, saying that "appropriate disciplinary action" will be taken if the charges are found true. "I support Special commissioner Stanciks effort to rid the public schools of teacher-assisted cheating," added Levy.
The cooperation between the special investigator and the chancellors office is a far cry from last years wave of charges. At the time, Stancik criticized then-Chancellor Rudy Crew for not taking the charges seriously.
Both United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and State Education Commissioner Richard Mills have vowed to review the findings.