Trade secrets?!

**gae** · April 9th, 2009, 11:08 AM

Teachers Argue To Make Test Questions Public
Ohio Supreme Court Hears Arguments From Teachers And CPS

POSTED: 8:23 am EDT April 9, 2009
UPDATED: 8:38 am EDT April 9, 2009
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CINCINNATI -- Some Cincinnati teachers have asked the Ohio Supreme Court to rule that previously used student achievement tests are public records.

The teachers said the semester exams should be open to public scrutiny to determine whether they're suitable. The scores account for as much as 25 percent of a student's final grade.

But Cincinnati Public Schools officials said the tests are private, even if sample questions are posted online.

Lawyers on both sides argued their cases before the state's highest court on Wednesday.

An attorney for the schools argued that the tests contain trade secrets and are exempt from the state's Public Records Act. The teachers' lawyer said because the exams have been seen by the thousands of students who've already taken them, they're hardly secret.

WTH has changed since I was in school? Are facts changing?

**Lew** · April 9th, 2009, 11:09 PM

I'm trying to fathom if there could somehow be proprietary information disclosed. But yeah, just based on what I'm hearing, it's a weak argument. These are public schools and they're being administered public tests. I just wonder if they're afraid that people would scrutinize and take issue with some of the answers.

**gae** · April 10th, 2009, 04:48 AM

If the students who have already taken the tests are not sworn to secrecy or have their brains sucked out, how could anything be proprietary?

I think they just don't want the public to know how useless and stupid the tests are.

**Beachcomber** · April 10th, 2009, 11:23 PM

It's Bush's fault.

**LanDroid** · April 11th, 2009, 09:34 AM

Here's some more info:

CPS takes test info off web | Cincinnati Enquirer | Cincinnati.Com

Cincinnati reuses identical test questions year after year, (Science teacher Paul) Perrea said. So students who go online - or teachers who prep students using the online guides - can gain an unfair advantage.

Doesn't that argue against his case to make the tests public? Reminds me of the college frat houses that have files of previous tests for many classes...

A petition signed by Perrea and about 60 Cincinnati teachers said they want details on the "creation, administration and grading" of CPS semester examinations so they could get an outside expert assessment of the "fairness, accuracy and validity of the exams."

Couldn't they get that done without making the tests public?

**Beachcomber** · April 11th, 2009, 10:44 AM

It's Bush's fault. I must say on this issue I agree with Raven. We should let the UN handle it.

**gae** · April 12th, 2009, 04:17 AM

Students who, oh, I don't know, maybe pay attention and study will have an unfair advantage.

Ah, the continued dumbing down of America.

**Lew** · April 12th, 2009, 11:03 AM

I keep waiting for the punchline, but I'm just not seeing it. I made the faux pas at work the other day of commenting on how I'd like to take one of those tests just to see how I'd do, and now everyone thinks I'm some know-it-all geek.

COULDN'T BE JEALOUSY, NOW COULD IT?