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Calculator Flaw Forces Recall in Virginia

Posted by timothy on from the slight-bump-to-the-gravy-train dept.

Jivecat writes "CNN is reporting that TI is recalling 11,000 calculators issued to students in Virginia because of a flaw that would give them an unfair advantage on standardized tests. A 12-year-old discovered that by pressing two keys at once, the calculators will convert decimals to fractions. The tests require the students to know how to do this with pencil-and-paper." So the calculator is being recalled because it's not crippled enough. Maybe it's a good time to question the wisdom of issuing expensive electronics to students in the first place, though I'm sure the calculator companies would rather you didn't.

2 of 687 comments (clear)

  1. Uh, isn't it TI by captainbeardo · · Score: 5, Informative

    Am I blind or does it say Texas Instruments, not HP?

  2. Re:And I suppose they will give them back!? by crazyvas · · Score: 4, Informative

    The motivation is this: Virgina allows only "state-approved" calculators to be used in standardized tests. If you don't send your calculator back and receive the fixed one, you won't be allowed to take your test with the old calculator. http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/Calculato rUseonSOLTests.pdf