7 News Investigation: Faking The Grade

Air Date: 05/12/2004
Reported By: Carmel Cafiero

It turns they may never have done the necessary course-work to meet state standards despite what their transcripts show. Some may not even be properly trained to teach drivers ed. Here's 7's Carmel Cafiero with tonight's special assignment report- Faking the Grade.

(WSVN)- It's a sad fact- teenagers get into more fatal accidents than any other group.

Before they get behind the wheel, many of them will take a driver's ed. class.

Now, 7 News has learned the person teaching that class may have "driven around" state requirements.

Teacher, Bennett Packman: "I'm not a certified driver ed. teacher."

Bennett Packman "is" a physical education teacher.

Last fall, he says he was told he would also be teaching driver's ed. at American High in Miami Lakes even though he's not qualified.

Bennett Packman: "I never taught the course before."

Packman says American High gave him dozens of student waivers to sign as the instructor.

If he signed them, the students would not have to take the state written test to get their license.

He refused.

Bennett Packman: "Lives are at stake here. People are out on the road with a three thousand pound vehicle.

The state requires teachers take three college courses before they can teach driver ed.

That's more than one hundred hours of instruction.

But, Packman says authorities at American wanted him to take a shortcut.

Bennett Packman: "At the same time they were putting pressure on me to take a one day course by a Bill McCoggle."

Bill McCoggle is a physical education teacher at Palmetto High school in Pinecrest.

On the side, he runs a company that offers accredited courses for educators through out of state colleges. But how much teaching happened has become an issue.

When McCoggle did not return phone calls, we caught up with him after school.

Carmel Cafiero: "My understanding is that you charged teachers two thousand dollars for a one day course for certification?

Bill McCoggle: "It's wrong."

Carmel Cafiero: "Seven hundred seventy-five."

Carmel Cafiero: "The credits for south Florida teachers came from this school- Eastern Oklahoma State College. And, Oklahoma education authorities found out about that arrangement, the college President was forced to resign."

Dr. Richard Bernard of Eastern Oklahoma State College: "We are unable to honor those credits."

Dr. Bernard is the new president of Eastern.

He says the school had no way of knowing if classes were held.

Yet, through this agreement between McCoggle and the former president of Eastern-

College credits were issued to Florida educators for everything from biology to drivers ed. without teachers possibly ever having to take the necessary course work.

Dr. Bernard: "I think it does reflect poorly on the actions of Eastern under the old administration. I would Not kid you about that."

The Oklahoma Board of Regents also investigated.

Its final report shows one case so outrageous, a student received credit after being enrolled for only four days.

Ben Hardcastle of the Oklahoma Boad of Regents: " How many credits were given we know. How many courses were held- we don't know."

The regents report reveals 190 students- mostly teachers from Miami-Dade-took 340 courses for 1639 credits.

After the investigation, the work was considered so questionable, all of the credits were denied.

Ben Harcastle: " There's every indication that these credits were not real…these credits were sham. Credits and certainly don't reflect the kind of standards that any legitimate higher education institution wants to have.

When Seven News checked the records for all of Miami-Dade's driver ed. teachers, we found credits from other out of state schools - besides Eastern Oklahoma - issued through McCoggle for the past eight years.

But, McCoggle was too busy to talk about his business.

Carmel Cafiero: " And what was your authority to do so?

Bill McCoggle: "Cause I have a consultant"

Carmel Cafiero: "What? Could you stop and talk to me for a minute."

Bill McCoggle: "No, I got a game - a softball game."

Carmel Cafiero: "Oh - watch it!"

Bill McCoggle: " You have to ask my principal to talk."

McCoggle didn't go to a softball game… he went home.

The Miami-Dade School District says it will be up to the state to determine the validity of teacher certifications.

Carmel Cafiero: "Are you concerned you may have drivers education teachers among others who are not properly educated?

Myco Villifania of Miami- Dade Schools; "Well certainly that's a concern."

The department of motor vehicles is also concerned.

Bob Sanchez of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: "We would not want waiversissued by people who are not authorized to issue them."

Bennett Packman wasn't authorized. Now, he's out of work.

Packman thinks he is being blackballed because he wouldn't take part in faking the grade."

Bennett Packman: "If the price I have to pay is temporary unemployment or fight with the Dade County Schools - if it saves lives, great, I'll pay the price."

There appears to be no regulation of companies that offer long distance learning programs. But the state is looking into what went wrong here and Bennett Packman has agreed to talk with Miami-Dade's inspector general. It would be a shame to learn - we have teachers - who cheated.

If there's something you think we should investigate give me a call or send me an e-mail. It could be our next case.

For more information:
Dade: 305-627-CLUE
Broward: 954- 921-CLUE
Email: clue@wsvn.com

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