<p>The problem is when only one member of the group is really interested in conquering. There’s a big difference between a group voluntarily formed, and one that’s assigned, especially if the assigning authority deliberately groups weaker and stronger students together. My kids always despised such group work.</p>
<p>I’ve been on both sides of this coin, as a parent and as a teacher. Teacher education programs REALLY stress cooperative work, and we’re told constantly that this is the best way for many kids to learn.</p>
<p>One approach, which I did use, was asking students to grade the other students in their group. I never gave the same grade to every student in the group – I always structured the project so that I could figure out who did what, and graded them individually.</p>
<p>As for cheating – this article, [Why</a> Students Cheat on Tests – New York Magazine](<a href=“http://nymag.com/news/features/cheating-2012-9/]Why”>Why Students Cheat on Tests -- New York Magazine - Nymag), goes into more details. I’ll confess to cheating in HS, but not in college – we did little things like give test info to the students in later classes, and mouth answers across the room. I knew one girl who wrote her boyfriend’s research paper. But this systematic and comprehensive approach to cheating, where entire tests are photographed and texted on what seems like a regular basis, goes into a whole new territory. </p>
<p>What I don’t understand, at a school as competitive as Stuy, is why you want your classmates to all do well on tests? That ends up raising everyone’s grade. Nayeem’s 97 on the physics regent is less impressive if 140 of his classmates also get a 97 because he gave them every single answer.</p>
<p>"The problem is when only one member of the group is really interested in conquering. " - not a problem, an opportunity, they will fight for it later on, they just do not see it now. My own D. said, “I should keep my mouth shut next meeting, I was talking the most last time, I have ot let other talk” - and this is being nice. Others simply shut everybody else and put themselves in charge. I am saying, enjoy while it lasts, it will flip later on, they will not always be the ones who are doing everything, they will fight for the chance!</p>