Hi all!
The following is a cross post from Fido Legal_Law conference.  I am almost
sure some of you will enjoy it and even perhaps make good use of it:
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BBS: The Nuthouse BBS
Date: 05-29-95 (03:10)             Number: 2556
From: RICHARD DONOVAN              Refer#: NONE 
 To: ALL                           Recvd: NO
Subj: 2 out 3 ain't bad ...          Conf: (57) LEGAL_LAW
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from the NY Times May 27, 1995
Competency in Child Cases is Questioned 
              ______
Low Scores on Exam Raise Offical Fears
A pattern of low exam scores for workers training to be child-abuse
investigators has raised concerns about city officials, with some
supposing that trainees be required to pass a minimum competency test
before being certified to investigate allegations of neglect or abuse. 
 In the most recent final exam, in November, the average score was
66 %, *despite* the removal of several questions that proved too
difficult. 
 The James Satterwhite Academy, the city's training school, uses
the exams primarily to identify areas of of its curriculum that need
improvement. 
 " These scores would seem to show that either Satterwhite instruction
was inferior, or that trainees were simply incapable of absorbing the
instruction, " NYC Comptroller Alan Hevesi wrote in a letter to
Human Resources Administration Commissioner Marva Livingston. 
 The 85 question, multiple choice test is only part of the training
given to invbestigative workers, who must have a 4 year college degree.
After the 20 day course at Satterwhite, investigators spend 4 months
in the field with a supervisor before returning to the Sattewhite Academy
for 19 more days of training. 
 The exam given to trainees covers knowledge of state law, agency policy,
interview techniques and topics like how to deal with a silent client or
recognize the signs of sexual abuse. 
    Classes in Feb. 1993, June 1993 and March 1994 scored an *average*
of 60 %, 6 % *less* than the November class, Hevesi said. 
    " Caseworkers should be able to correctly answer more than 6 out of
every 10 multiple choice final exam questions before leaving the training
academy and conducting abuse investigations," Hevesi wrote.
 
    Ms. Hamons declined to be interviewed but said in a statement that
the agency had made extensive changes in the way training is conducted
at the Satterwhite Academy.
 
    " WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED MANDATORY ATTENDANCE AT TRAINING SESSIONS, 
      WHICH WAS NOT FOLLOWED UP ON BEFORE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION," 
      she said. 
                                  >>
 
    What's next, Hooked on Phonics or Cost Accounting ?
... In all matters of opinion our adversaries are insane. Mark Twain
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