Editorial: Inexcusable offense

Friday, Jan. 9, 2004 | 5:26 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

January 10 - 11, 2004

The Nevada attorney general's office is investigating allegations that two Clark County high school teachers shared the statewide math proficiency exam with students prior to the tests being taken in April. The attorney general's office, once the probe is completed, will recommend whether the teachers' licenses should be suspended or revoked. A report released last week by the Legislative Committee on Education said that a Desert Pines High School teacher "copied questions from the test by hand and created a worksheet that was distributed to at least two students." The same report also says that a teacher at Western High School made photocopies and cut out parts of the test for his students to use as a practice sheet.

Several points should be made about these disturbing revelations. Instances of teachers being involved in cheating on standardized tests seem to be increasing here and around the country. Teachers undoubtedly feel more pressure than they once did, especially since school funding now is often linked to the performance on these tests. Schools -- and the legislators at the state and federal level who mandate high-stakes testing -- shouldn't create the kind of environment that can encourage cheating. Having said that, there still is absolutely no circumstance where it is excusable for a teacher to engage in cheating. It also is disturbing that the Clark County School District, citing personnel confidentiality laws, can't say what kind of disciplinary action has been taken. Cheating is a cardinal sin in education and we expect school officials to harshly punish those who do so. The public deserves to know just how seriously school officials take these matters, and the type of punishment meted out is a good indication.