[Arizona-students] cheating in highschool and college, thoughts, and experiences

[Arielle Silverman]

Hi all,

	I don't believe that blind students are, on average, more or less
conscientious or morally aware than sighted students. Remember, the blind
are a cross-section of the general population.

	Blind people have some methods of cheating that sighted people don't
have, like access to notes on a Braille notetaker. But, blind students
cannot copy their sighted classmates' answers, and that is a common cheating
technique used by the sighted. I think that overall, it evens out.

	I believe that blind students should never be given the chance to
take a test home unless their sighted classmates also have that option.
Taking a test home is more than just an opportunity to cheat; it also gives
the blind student a big time advantage over the sighted. If a test must be
taken with a reader, JFW, etc. then I believe it should be made a priority
for the student to be given access to these accommodations at school, even
if the test has to be taken on another day. Blind students need to be able
to take tests under time pressure just like everybody else.

	Opinions about how severely cheating should be punished will vary,
as will opinions about how much a blind student should be supervised to
prevent cheating. I remember having a high school English teacher who
pop-quizzed me on vocabulary because he thought that I was using my notes to
fill out the written test. Turns out I did know the vocabulary after all,
and once I had passed this pop quiz, I earned his trust. Ultimately these
kinds of decisions need to be worked out by the student and teacher
together.

Arielle

-----Original Message-----
From: arizona-students-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:arizona-students-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Darrell Shandrow
Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2006 7:50 AM
To: Arizona Association of Blind Students List
Subject: Re: [Arizona-students] cheating in highschool and college,
thoughts,and experiences

Hi Brandon,

I think the reasonable accomodations we may be afforded may provide some 
ways for blind students to cheat that aren't as easy as sighted students 
but, overall, I think it is a lot less likely the blind will do so.  As much

as it is easier to cheat, blind students may also know that it may be easy 
for sighted instructors and other students to catch them.  I also feel that,

by and large, the typical blind student is a lot more conscientious than the

average sighted student, and is thus not nearly as likely.

As far as punishment, well, all I'll say is that it ought to be exactly the 
same for the blind as it is for the sighted, no question.


Darrell Shandrow - Shandrow Communications!
Technology consultant/instructor, network/systems administrator!
A+, CSSA, Network+!
Information should be accessible to us without need of translation by 
another person.
Blind Access Journal blog and podcast: http://www.blindaccessjournal.com
Sign the ProTools accessibility petition at http://protoolspetition.org 
today!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brandon McGinty" <brandon.mcginty at gmail.com>
To: <arizona-students at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2006 5:29 PM
Subject: [Arizona-students] cheating in highschool and college, thoughts,and

experiences


> Hi All,
> I'm doing an essay on cheating, and how it varies between highschool and
> college, and for blind vs. sighted students.
> Below is a copy of the e-mail I've posted to nfb-talk.
>
> I am writing a paper on cheating in school, and how the methods and
> level of difficulties differ from blind vs. sighted students.
> For instance, how easy is it for a blind student to cheat on a test,
> with the loopholes he or she is given (taking the test home, due to
> time  constraints,
> is one example.)
> Also, what should be done with a cheater once he or she is caught?
> A talk, detension, suspension?
> I'd love to here your thoughts, posative and negative.
>
>
> It seems that technology has opened the dorr for much easier ways to 
> cheat.
> I assume blind students might be able to slip print papers behind there
> tests with notes, but I wonder how much of an occurrence that is?
> Does anyone have suggestions for punishment for students caught cheating?
> Your responses are wonderful! Thanks!
>
> _______________________________________________
> Arizona-students mailing list
> Arizona-students at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/arizona-students
> 

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