Guest
10-07-2004, 08:01 AM
TWIMC,
We are INTERNET TRAFFIC SCHOOL. They ARE NOT.
You are trying to contact HOMESTEAD TRAFFIC SCHOOL, not us about your
problem:
________________
Homestead Traffic School23844 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 200, Torrance, CA 90505Phone (310) 791-9975, Fax (310) 791-0135
_______________
They (Homestead) have been using our name illegally for 6 years and
have created a lot of trouble for us because people confuse us for
them.
They and this has nothing to do with our company.
But if you need to ever clear your record in the future, you can take
our school for free.
Ok?
Sincerely,
Karen Hamilton
VP - Consumer Relations: Internet Traffic School
http://www.internettrafficschool.com
------------------------------------------------
Below is a copy of an emailed letter I have sent to the Internet
Traffic
School mentioned below. I am posting it here because I believe their
exam
is unfairly constructed, and incorrectly scored. Because of this, I
was
made to retake the exam at a cost of an additional $15. While the
amount
is negligible, if they are grading unfairly and causing others to pay
as
I did, they are profiting in a criminal manner. At this point in time
they have not yet had a chance to reply to me, but I wish to find out
if
any others have been taken advantage of in this manner.
TO:Homestead Traffic School23844 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 200, Torrance, CA 90505Phone (310) 791-9975, Fax (310) 791-0135
From:
James Woodson, cPh.D., UCLA
To whom it may concern:
I am writing to you to 1) alert you to errors in your Internet Program
final exam, and 2) to demand an immediate refund for the $15.00
retesting
fee. According to your automated scoring, I failed the first test by
one
question. I passed the second time, and after carefully reviewing your
materials, I have come to the following conclusions.
There are several questions on your final exam which are either
incorrectly scored, or so logically disputable as to be unacceptable
for
the test. They are as follows:
10. The use of child safety seat is required in all of the following
cases except
a) child under 4
b) child under 4 weighing more than 40 lbs.
c) child over 4 weighing more than 40 lbs.
d) child over 4 weighing less than 40 lbs.
Your answer key scored my response "C" as incorrect and claims that
"d"
is the correct answer. Obviously, one would be hard pressed to find a
4-year old child weighing less than 40 lbs. I believe your key is
wrong.
********
20. What should you do if you think you're going to be hit from the
front?
a) Brace yourself with the steering wheel.
b) Throw yourself across the seat to avoid hitting the steering
column or the windshield.
c) Apply the brake hard.
d) Open the door and throw yourself out of the car.
Your answer key claims that choice "B" is the correct, but that choice
would only be correct in the event that one was in an older car
without
shoulder restraints. Doing so would negate any benefit from the
shoulder
restraint, while abandoning control of the vehicle. Moreover, the most
important thing in minimizing damage in a head on collision is
reducing
velocity, thus reducing the Force of the impact, because Force = Mass
*
Velocity. (F=M*V). Again, your key is wrong.
********
33. It is safe to pass only in one of the following situations:
a) the hill ahead is less than 1/3 mile away
b) near shopping center entrances
c) there's a broken yellow line on your side of the road
d) you'll have to pass several cars at one time
e) the driver ahead of you is exceeding the speed limit
Your answer key claims the correct answer is "B) near shopping center
entrances."
Clearly, your key is wrong.
********
46. Although it's unsafe, it is not illegal for bicyclists to not wear
a
helmet.
a) true
b) false
First of all, the use of the double negative is disgraceful, and
makes
the test more of an interpretive skill assessment than a test of
knowledge. Your answer key says B) False.
According to your class, it is NOT illegal for bicyclists to NOT wear
a
helmet (if they are over 18 years of age). Your question is unfair and
borders on deceit. Your answer key is wrong.
*********
47. You need not stop if the school bus is on the other side of a
divided
highway.
a) true
b) false
Your answer key says b) False. Your answer key is wrong.
*********
77. Signs that provide information to motorists are called
a) traffic signs.
b) warning signs.
c) regulatory signs.
d) guide signs.
Lastly, the question above is ambiguous, as all of the signs provide
information. The question should be revised to exclude "incorrect"
answers. The fact that the question appears twice on the exam is
suspicious, especially given its ambiguity.
I am extremely angered at having been forced to re-take the exam
because
of your unprofessional negligence with regard to preparing a fair test
which is scored correctly! Your errors enabled you to charge me, and
undoubtedly countless others, a charge of $15 each. Such activity
would
clearly be criminal if engaged in with conscious knowledge by any
business. Additionally, there was a personal cost to me of several
hours
of my time. Normally, I charge several hundred dollars per hour of my
time for consultation, particularly when it involves using my academic
training in fair exam preparation.
I expect a full refund to my credit card of the $15 you charged me for
the retest, and I expect to hear from you immediately regarding the
state
of your tests. Be advised that a copy of this emailed letter will
accompany my evaluation of your course, which will be mailed to the
Traffic Violator School Monitoring Division, (HACoLA).I can be reached
most efficiently via email (jwoodson@ucla.edu). I expect this issue to
be
resolved with the utmost expediency on your part.
Sincerely,
James C. Woodson
Ph.D. Candidate, UCLA
We are INTERNET TRAFFIC SCHOOL. They ARE NOT.
You are trying to contact HOMESTEAD TRAFFIC SCHOOL, not us about your
problem:
________________
Homestead Traffic School23844 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 200, Torrance, CA 90505Phone (310) 791-9975, Fax (310) 791-0135
_______________
They (Homestead) have been using our name illegally for 6 years and
have created a lot of trouble for us because people confuse us for
them.
They and this has nothing to do with our company.
But if you need to ever clear your record in the future, you can take
our school for free.
Ok?
Sincerely,
Karen Hamilton
VP - Consumer Relations: Internet Traffic School
http://www.internettrafficschool.com
------------------------------------------------
Below is a copy of an emailed letter I have sent to the Internet
Traffic
School mentioned below. I am posting it here because I believe their
exam
is unfairly constructed, and incorrectly scored. Because of this, I
was
made to retake the exam at a cost of an additional $15. While the
amount
is negligible, if they are grading unfairly and causing others to pay
as
I did, they are profiting in a criminal manner. At this point in time
they have not yet had a chance to reply to me, but I wish to find out
if
any others have been taken advantage of in this manner.
TO:Homestead Traffic School23844 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 200, Torrance, CA 90505Phone (310) 791-9975, Fax (310) 791-0135
From:
James Woodson, cPh.D., UCLA
To whom it may concern:
I am writing to you to 1) alert you to errors in your Internet Program
final exam, and 2) to demand an immediate refund for the $15.00
retesting
fee. According to your automated scoring, I failed the first test by
one
question. I passed the second time, and after carefully reviewing your
materials, I have come to the following conclusions.
There are several questions on your final exam which are either
incorrectly scored, or so logically disputable as to be unacceptable
for
the test. They are as follows:
10. The use of child safety seat is required in all of the following
cases except
a) child under 4
b) child under 4 weighing more than 40 lbs.
c) child over 4 weighing more than 40 lbs.
d) child over 4 weighing less than 40 lbs.
Your answer key scored my response "C" as incorrect and claims that
"d"
is the correct answer. Obviously, one would be hard pressed to find a
4-year old child weighing less than 40 lbs. I believe your key is
wrong.
********
20. What should you do if you think you're going to be hit from the
front?
a) Brace yourself with the steering wheel.
b) Throw yourself across the seat to avoid hitting the steering
column or the windshield.
c) Apply the brake hard.
d) Open the door and throw yourself out of the car.
Your answer key claims that choice "B" is the correct, but that choice
would only be correct in the event that one was in an older car
without
shoulder restraints. Doing so would negate any benefit from the
shoulder
restraint, while abandoning control of the vehicle. Moreover, the most
important thing in minimizing damage in a head on collision is
reducing
velocity, thus reducing the Force of the impact, because Force = Mass
*
Velocity. (F=M*V). Again, your key is wrong.
********
33. It is safe to pass only in one of the following situations:
a) the hill ahead is less than 1/3 mile away
b) near shopping center entrances
c) there's a broken yellow line on your side of the road
d) you'll have to pass several cars at one time
e) the driver ahead of you is exceeding the speed limit
Your answer key claims the correct answer is "B) near shopping center
entrances."
Clearly, your key is wrong.
********
46. Although it's unsafe, it is not illegal for bicyclists to not wear
a
helmet.
a) true
b) false
First of all, the use of the double negative is disgraceful, and
makes
the test more of an interpretive skill assessment than a test of
knowledge. Your answer key says B) False.
According to your class, it is NOT illegal for bicyclists to NOT wear
a
helmet (if they are over 18 years of age). Your question is unfair and
borders on deceit. Your answer key is wrong.
*********
47. You need not stop if the school bus is on the other side of a
divided
highway.
a) true
b) false
Your answer key says b) False. Your answer key is wrong.
*********
77. Signs that provide information to motorists are called
a) traffic signs.
b) warning signs.
c) regulatory signs.
d) guide signs.
Lastly, the question above is ambiguous, as all of the signs provide
information. The question should be revised to exclude "incorrect"
answers. The fact that the question appears twice on the exam is
suspicious, especially given its ambiguity.
I am extremely angered at having been forced to re-take the exam
because
of your unprofessional negligence with regard to preparing a fair test
which is scored correctly! Your errors enabled you to charge me, and
undoubtedly countless others, a charge of $15 each. Such activity
would
clearly be criminal if engaged in with conscious knowledge by any
business. Additionally, there was a personal cost to me of several
hours
of my time. Normally, I charge several hundred dollars per hour of my
time for consultation, particularly when it involves using my academic
training in fair exam preparation.
I expect a full refund to my credit card of the $15 you charged me for
the retest, and I expect to hear from you immediately regarding the
state
of your tests. Be advised that a copy of this emailed letter will
accompany my evaluation of your course, which will be mailed to the
Traffic Violator School Monitoring Division, (HACoLA).I can be reached
most efficiently via email (jwoodson@ucla.edu). I expect this issue to
be
resolved with the utmost expediency on your part.
Sincerely,
James C. Woodson
Ph.D. Candidate, UCLA
