Exams, VCE, University, Cheating, Etc.
- a cynical view
By Fred McArdle
The topic of VCE is always good for a controversy, as also in recent times the topic of cheating at university. Having been involved in teacher education for 25 years [escaped now, though], I can vouch for the fact that quite a few prospective teachers will quite cheerily hand in other people’s assignments, give false excuses for late work, cheat on exams, and so on. I think also that I understand [which is not the same as "condone"] something of the rationale behind such cheating, a rationale which may in some cases, of course, be quite unconscious. The tertiary course of study, whatever it may be, is seen as a “stepping stone” to some career or status as a “qualified professional”. The course is a set of obstacles set up by some “authority”, and we all know what many people think of authority [ugh!]. Learning is not the object of the exercise, but getting qualified, so that the student can get on with the real business of living a professional life. Quite often I have heard students ask what on earth a subject like Ethics, or Philosophy, or History of Education, or even Physical Education, has to do with teaching kids in school. Teacher education is slowing down their progress towards being a teacher, and at least partly a waste of time!