Have Cellphone? Will fail

[Easy Mac]

The Sunday Times - Scotland

July 31, 2005

Students ‘failed’ for using phones
Jason Allardyce
MORE than 100 school pupils are to be told that they have failed their exams because they took mobile phones into examination halls across Scotland.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has admitted that students have attempted to defy rules banning the use of electronic devices while they take tests.

Written guidance issued to students before tests began in May stated that mobile phones would be prohibited in exam halls in case children used them to retrieve information relating to questions in test papers. It warned that anyone found in possession of a mobile phone or other electronic device would have their entries “cancelled”.

The SQA says that mobile phones were taken into test halls on 109 occasions this year although it believes that most of the allegations do not refer to deliberate attempts to cheat.

The students will learn of their failure when results begin to drop through letter boxes across Scotland on August 9. A further 41 pupils face being failed for plagiarising the work of other children. They will have the chance to appeal against the decisions.

Educationalists said it was right to punish anyone who had breached the rules. Judith Gillespie, of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council, said: “If the SQA is to have any credibility it has to live up to the guidelines it gives pupils. Children are told well in advance that they cannot bring mobile phones into exams. If they are let off, then pupils sitting exams next year will think the SQA is not serious about disciplining people who break the rules.”

Bill McGregor, the general secretary of the Headteachers’ Association of Scotland, added: “We are talking about a relatively small number of pupils, but that does not make it any less serious. The rules are very firmly stated and the SQA owes a duty to other students to take the strongest action possible. A strict line has to be taken.”

Somewhat torn as to my thoughts. On the one hand, if these are older kids who drive there, then yeah, just leave it in the damn car and be done with it. Fail them. However, if they need a ride from their parents (and it didn't take place during normal school hours), then how can they not take a phone in so they can call their parents for a ride. More than likely, the kids just didn't follow the rule, but who knows.

[Vince]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

Somewhat torn as to my thoughts. On the one hand, if these are older kids who drive there, then yeah, just leave it in the damn car and be done with it. Fail them. However, if they need a ride from their parents (and it didn't take place during normal school hours), then how can they not take a phone in so they can call their parents for a ride. More than likely, the kids just didn't follow the rule, but who knows.

Well, if they knew that this rule was in place, I'm sure that someone that needed a cell phone to get a hold of their parents after the exam could have brought the cell phone to the front of the exam hall and handed it to the moderator for the duration of the test.

It is a kind of harsh ruling though.

[CraigSca]

I have no problem with it. It's a rule. If you break the rule, these are the consequences. Somehow, kids survived for thousand of years without cell phones and will probably continue to do so.

Kudos to the Scotland for making a rule and sticking to it.

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

However, if they need a ride from their parents (and it didn't take place during normal school hours), then how can they not take a phone in so they can call their parents for a ride. More than likely, the kids just didn't follow the rule, but who knows.

Back in the old days before cell phones, there were these magical devices called pay phones. Before that, there was this bizarre concept where people who need to be somewhere for an exam would find out ahead of time how long it would take and take appropriate measures to plan ahead to make sure they would have a ride or anything else they need at the conclusion of the exam.

I'm not torn all. If the rule was administered appropriately and a student paying attention knew it was against the rules, then fail away. I'm sure if a student realized they brought a phone in against the rules all they would need to do is turn it over to a proctor and retreieve it afterwards. Seems pretty simple.

[bhlloy]

Couldn't agree more... rules are rules. What is the point in having it if your not going to enforce it?

Every exam I have ever been in, from high school to university has had a 5 minute opportunity to put your hand up and hand a mobile phone to a teacher/invigilator.

[jeff061]

Somehow, kids survived for thousand of years without cell phones and will probably continue to do so.

That's what I was thinking. I graduated high school in 1999, not THAT long ago. Even then kids with cell phones were in the minority, maybe 2 or 3 for a 25 kid class, problems like this never came up.

No we cheated by taking down the questions on calculators and giving them to friends ahead of time .

[MrBigglesworth]

I'm ok with it, as long as the students were told when they got there that cell phones were not allowed, and to either leave them at the front or in your car. I say that because I carry my phone on me at all times without even thinking about it, and to fail what seems to be important test just because something like that just because it never occured to you that you have it is overkill. At the movies I usually forget to put it on vibrate until the reminder comes onscreen.

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by jeff061

That's what I was thinking. I graduated high school in 1999, not THAT long ago. Even then kids with cell phones were in the minority, maybe 2 or 3 for a 25 kid class, problems like this never came up.

No we cheated by taking down the questions on calculators and giving them to friends ahead of time .

Shit bro, before your time we use to write the answers on our hands and arms. And this was before pens and pencils, we had to use our own blood and a bird feather.

[vex]

Originally Posted by Rizon

Shit bro, before your time we use to write the answers on our hands and arms. And this was before pens and pencils, we had to use our own blood and a bird feather.

I always preferred the stone tablet.

[AZSpeechCoach]

If the proctors never knew that the students had the phones (i.e. they were kept turned off in a backpack), then I wouldn't think there was a problem. Nobody is the wiser. Methinks that these were the students who brought them out, or had them ring during the test, or put them on their desk, etc.