AJC: Cheating rampant in Atlanta public schools

[MisterCreosote]

The governor's investigative report was released Tuesday. Yeesh.

http://www.ajc.com/news/investigation-into-aps-cheating-1001375.html

The voluminous report names 178 educators, including 38 principals, as participants in cheating. More than 80 confessed. The investigators said they confirmed cheating in 44 of 56 schools they examined.

The investigators conducted more than 2,100 interviews and examined more than 800,000 documents in what is likely the most wide-ranging investigation into test-cheating in a public school district ever conducted in United States history.

 

[poindexter]

May be some teaching jobs opening up in the ATL

 

[Ace]

If you can't teach to the test, cheat to the test.

 

[YankeeFan]

Yeah, but my mom/wife/brother/friend is a teacher and he/she is a good person. He/she is a good and dedicated teacher and tries really hard. He/she even dips into their own pocket to purchase school supplies.

Therefore, every teacher is good and there can't be any problems with public schools anywhere.

 

[LongTimeListener]

This would be like finding out Kentucky football was cheating all these years to finish ninth in the SEC.

 

[king cranium maximus IV]

An Atlanta public official tradition: Arrive on the scene, cut corruption, do good works, earn accolades, buddy up to corruption, leave in disgrace so someone else can arrive on the scene, cut corruption...

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Yeah, but my mom/wife/brother/friend is a teacher and he/she is a good person. He/she is a good and dedicated teacher and tries really hard. He/she even dips into their own pocket to purchase school supplies.

Therefore, every teacher is good and there can't be any problems with public schools anywhere.

Or there's the other generalized stereotype: "All teachers are lazy and all they want to do is mooch off the public teet and coast through with entire summers off where they do jack ****."

Of course, what I said is just as true as your point. Being related to a bunch of educators, none of them are all that happy with the status quo either. But they're also against the increased use of standardized testing. It's not the cure-all there, but that's not to say those who care don't think everything is hunky dory either.

I still maintain the biggest contributor to any failure in the education system is that child's parents. That's not to say that's the case every time, but at least many times.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Those who can't, teach.

(Too soon? ... and in complete sarcasm as I consider at least two teachers very good friends of mine ... )

 

[JackReacher]

In high school, during the SAT exam, a kid sitting behind me was asking me for answers.

Me: Dude. They're all different tests.
Him: Huh?
Me: Numbers 1-10 are all A.
Him: Thanks, bro!

 

[Sam Mills 51]

This isn't really about the quality of teachers but the alleged felonies throughout the entire system. Falsifying records comes from a level way higher than the average teacher.

Correct. Superintendents, principals and teachers are under pressure to keep childrem matriculating through the system. But how much is reasonable and how many barely-literate children are being moved up?

The couple of educator friends I have are shaking their heads.

 

[Ace]

This isn't really about the quality of teachers but the alleged felonies throughout the entire system. Falsifying records comes from a level way higher than the average teacher.

True. This was a push from the administrators on up trying to gild their lilies.

 

[Ace]

In high school, during the SAT exam, a kid sitting behind me was asking me for answers.

Me: Dude. They're all different tests.
Him: Huh?
Me: Numbers 1-10 are all A.
Him: Thanks, bro!

That's mean. You should have told him C. I hear that's the default answer.

 

[qtlaw]

Yeah, but my mom/wife/brother/friend is a teacher and he/she is a good person. He/she is a good and dedicated teacher and tries really hard. He/she even dips into their own pocket to purchase school supplies.

Therefore, every teacher is good and there can't be any problems with public schools anywhere.

I still maintain the biggest contributor to any failure in the education system is that child's parents. That's not to say that's the case every time, but at least many times.

I wholeheartedly agree. A teacher can inspire, I've seen it as PTA president and a parent, but without supportive parents the kids are really starting well behind.

Its amazing what a difference you can see between a kid who was/has been read to by his/her parents since they were in the womb and someone who's first words were spoken by a television.

 

[Ace]

Yeah, but my mom/wife/brother/friend is a teacher and he/she is a good person. He/she is a good and dedicated teacher and tries really hard. He/she even dips into their own pocket to purchase school supplies.

Therefore, every teacher is good and there can't be any problems with public schools anywhere.

I still maintain the biggest contributor to any failure in the education system is that child's parents. That's not to say that's the case every time, but at least many times.

I wholeheartedly agree. A teacher can inspire, I've seen it as PTA president and a parent, but without supportive parents the kids are really starting well behind.

Its amazing what a difference you can see between a kid who was/has been read to by his/her parents since they were in the womb and someone who's first words were spoken by a television.

This is true, but some kids are wired to succeed in school and some don't care.

Both of my boys are smart but one makes straight As and the other thinks a C is just fine.

 

[dixiehack]

With a tiny number of exceptions, those teaching in inner-city schools are the ones who can't get on elsewhere.

 

[JackReacher]

Yeah, but my mom/wife/brother/friend is a teacher and he/she is a good person. He/she is a good and dedicated teacher and tries really hard. He/she even dips into their own pocket to purchase school supplies.

Therefore, every teacher is good and there can't be any problems with public schools anywhere.

I still maintain the biggest contributor to any failure in the education system is that child's parents. That's not to say that's the case every time, but at least many times.

I wholeheartedly agree. A teacher can inspire, I've seen it as PTA president and a parent, but without supportive parents the kids are really starting well behind.

Its amazing what a difference you can see between a kid who was/has been read to by his/her parents since they were in the womb and someone who's first words were spoken by a television.

This is true, but some kids are wired to succeed in school and some don't care.

Both of my boys are smart but one makes straight As and the other thinks a C is just fine.

D is for diploma!

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

CNN's report indicated some of these teachers face possible jail time for fraud.

 

[playthrough]

This would be like finding out Kentucky football was cheating all these years to finish ninth in the SEC.

That's what I was kinda thinking. I lived in Atlanta 25 years ago and the public school system was largely ****.

On an unrelated note, it is good to see the AJC do something worthwhile.

 

[Ace]

Nothing improves a score like a good eraser.

 

[Mark2010]

There is so much pressure on teachers, principals, etc. to reach certain scores on these darn tests that the pressure to cheat is understandable. At the core, it's no different than the pressure on college coaches to win, thus they bend/break the rules when it comes to recruiting or whatever else.

If we'd all just take a few deep breaths and not have our underwear in such a bunch, this kind of stuff would be far less likely to happen.

Let's be honest, in a class of 30 students, there are going to be some exceptional, plenty of average and a few not-so-bright bulbs. To expect that everyone reach some magic number on their test score is out of touch with reality.