<p>The posts about being followed in a store made me think of something in a way that I didn’t think of at the time. I know these incidences occur. I am asking this question with sincerity, because I would like to know the best way to handle it. </p>
<p>I have volunteered in schools and was recently helping proctor an exam- older teens. I noticed some motion going on with two students sitting together that got my attention. They were moving around in their chairs, looking at each other, and moving their papers around. The teacher didn’t seem concerned. I had no proof of cheating, but I did watch them from time to time, because they were not sitting still in their seats with their eyes on their papers, and the other students were. I also watched the other students, but didn’t have reason to notice them.</p>
<p>It was not my place to address this, and since I didn’t see any strong evidence of cheating, I didn’t mention it. They could have been fidgety and uncomfortable in their seats. Maybe the teacher already knew this, as well as their academic records and so knew this was not a problem. I didn’t have enough information to know what was going on. </p>
<p>However, if I was the teacher and had some concerns about it. I would have looked at their papers later and if there had been some signs of cheating, would have spoken to each one individually. Without proof, I would not have made an accusation, but I would ask them to keep their papers still next time. </p>
<p>The class was diverse, with many African American students, and all of the students were taking the test in an appropriate manner, except these two students. They were African American. It was their moving around in their seats that caught my attention, but how would they know that? </p>
<p>With me looking at them, how will this not look like more of the same targeting that they have been subjected to? They don’t know what I am thinking, or that I am also looking at the other students, but they are the only ones doing this. I ask this because if I were to speak to them, they may legitimately feel targeted. In fact, they may already feel this way since I did observe them to get a better idea of what was going on. </p>
<p>However, not speaking to them tells them it is OK to do what they are doing, and I think it is important to teach kids what they need to do in school to succeed and also appropriate behavior during a test. Would I need to have a colleague of the same race as a student present when I speak to them so that they don’t perceive this as being about race? </p>