No More Summers (post #30)

A recent op-ed article by LZ Granderson of ESPN makes a great argument in favor of ending summer vacation as we know it and go to year round school. He points out how much knowledge is lost over the summer months and how much more competitive America could be in almost every way internationally with a year round education program. The American school year is approximately 180 days long while other countries have a 220 day year. What do students do with their summer any way? Play video games? Watch TV? Get in trouble? Granderson may be oversimplifying things but it is difficult to argue against greater student success from more days of classroom instruction. The irony here is that it looks like budget issues may make California shorten the school year further at a time when the world economy requires we must be as competitive as possible. Seniors, you are almost done and don't need to worry about losing your last summer, what do you think? Would school be more effective in preparing you for your future if there was more of it? Are there other issues you would attempt to change first? How would you make your high school educational experience more valuable?

Would schools and teachers encourage cheating? (Post #22)

Beginning April 5th, Galt High will begin taking the California Standards Tests for the 9th through 11th graders.  Our government uses incentives to encourage or discourage behavior.  Rewards (usually money) and punishments (fines, closings, and firings) are used.  For students historically, the test has no punishments and minor rewards.  This week, for example, some of you were invited to lunch with a teacher and some of you were let out of class early and given ice cream. This year, Galt High is offering a grade boost for high scores, but not for Fs.
Most incentives for the test affect schools and jobs.  Schools with low scores can be closed and Principals and teachers can be fired.  By 2014, the federal law dictates, 100% of public school students must be 'proficient' in math and reading. If not, a school can face replacement of its entire staff.
Some states and localities have rewards as well, including up to $25,000 bonuses for teachers with good scores and improvement.  So what are the consequences of high rewards and high punishments?
Schools in Washington D.C. have joined a list of schools around the country under investigation for irregularities in their testing on statewide standardized tests.  The claim is that cheating is occurring, including one teacher in Ohio who gave his class the answers to study before the test.  Read the article, so you have some basis to add to your answers.

Cheating already occurs among students on tests that affect their grades.

Does making a test count encourage more cheating?  For example, compare a practice test or CST before the grade bump to a normal in class test or a final exam.
What do you think the overall results of offering a letter grade increase will do to CST test scores?
Do all teachers do enough to prevent cheating?  Give examples if you know some.
If money were an incentive, would that make people work harder or just be more dishonest or both?
If you might get fired over low test scores, is cheating worth saving your job?
What then is the solution?  How do we get students and teachers and schools to educate and assess and care about the results?
Big question I know, but give it a shot.