[M.D. Holloway]

This is what can happen if when incentives based on test scores are put in place. I guess the pressure to have schools with Blue Ribbon and Exemplemplory status got to be too much for a bunch of Texas School Elementary Schools. A Houston Elementary School Teacher has blown the whistle on standard test cheating – I guess the teachers in some cases actually gave out the answers and in other instances they would walk behind the students as they were being tested, stop when the student had a wrong answer and point to the correct one.

This comes as no surprise. The test scores give your school a ranking. The Principle and Superintendent get bonuses for good scores and further more the town benefits from increased property value from having good/great schools. This is most likely the biggest impact on the town’s economic situation. I saw this first hand. We moved into a town 5 years ago that had great schools. Within 2 years they dropped down two ranks – the town had allowed low cost apartments, an influx of non-English speaking families moved in, instead of 3 kindergarten classes, the local elementary school now has 6, 2 being for non-English speaking and one for special needs (emotional). These folks have every right to a good life, and there kids have every right to an education but the fact is the test scores tanked and the housing market stalled in that town. We have moved to a new town with Blue Ribbon Schools and a robust housing market – no apartments allowed. As far as the cheating goes. I can’t say my son’s school does or doesn’t.

Just hope when me boy gets to be bout 12, he gits him one of dem teachers that doles out da answers and is willing to teach’m a little sump’n in the ways of da female form dat I’z been read’n bout…