Atlanta School Cheating Scandal

Jump to Last Post 1-6 of 6 discussions (14 posts)
  1. Aficionada profile image78
    Aficionadaposted 12 years ago

    I am sad, angry, upset, and unfortunately not surprised that a government plan to improve something (education) has ended in corruption.

    Is it possible for people with good intentions to look ahead realistically and foresee the probable outcome of their efforts?

    http://news.yahoo.com/americas-biggest- … 34183.html

  2. psycheskinner profile image84
    psycheskinnerposted 12 years ago

    I don't see how it is the government's fault that schools cheated.  Most systems have some kind of standardized testing. Most systems have some problems.  That doesn't excuse dishonesty.

    1. Aficionada profile image78
      Aficionadaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Fault is a stronger word than I would use. 

      From the article:
      "It's also a tacit indictment, critics say, of politicians putting all bets for improving education onto high-stakes tests that punish and reward students, teachers, and principals for test scores."

      "'When test scores are all that matter, some educators feel pressured to get the scores they need by hook or by crook,' says Mr. Schaeffer. 'The higher the stakes, the greater the incentive to manipulate, to cheat.'"

      I agree with you that dishonesty is dishonesty. I am appalled and horrified at what these teachers did and were allowed or encouraged to do.  But I think it is useful to look at all of the pressures that combined to contribute in some way to the mess, so that it can be avoided in the future.

  3. psycheskinner profile image84
    psycheskinnerposted 12 years ago

    I think standardized testing is important. But tethering rewards directly to results in naive. That said, a lot of things in life are unfair, and teachers are meant to be role models. There were other ways to protest an unfair system.

    1. Aficionada profile image78
      Aficionadaposted 12 years agoin reply to this



      Absolutely!

      Do you think, from a psychological perspective, that they were actually intending it as a protest?  My take on it was that it was more of a response borne of extreme frustration and (more likely) opportunism - both terrible traits for teachers and administrators to model.

      So many role models seem to be fizzling out before our eyes: sports figures, professionals of all stripes, parents....

  4. TMMason profile image60
    TMMasonposted 12 years ago

    Just another day in the US Education System, the current motto for the NEA as taught to the children is, "if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying hard enough.", yes excellent educators.

    1. Aficionada profile image78
      Aficionadaposted 12 years agoin reply to this



      I understand irony and sarcasm, and they are both frequently well deserved.

      But truthfully, this is not just another day in the US Education System.  This is the biggest cheating scandal in US education in history.  It has gone on for years.  It involves professional educators at all levels.

      I'm very glad that it is not typical and glad that it is so shocking.  What if it truly were just another day?

      1. TMMason profile image60
        TMMasonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Oh but it is... you said it yourself... it has been going on for years.

        You spoke truer than you think, Aficio.

        My nephews told me about the teachers saying just that to them in class a decade ago... it was a sad day.

        "If your not cheating, you not trying hard enough."

        1. Aficionada profile image78
          Aficionadaposted 12 years agoin reply to this


          Sorry, but I still don't agree. 

          Atlanta is one school system in the entire country; it is not "the US Education System" as a whole (which you referenced).  Your nephews' dreadful experience with one teacher is not necessarily representative of the entire nation's school systems. 

          My children (now adults) had excellent schools, teachers, and role models.  I'm sure there were some duds, too, but the bulk of what I saw and heard about was a far cry from this scandal and from your nephews' teacher(s).

          If we're going to extrapolate from individual cases to the entire nation, then I would have to say that the typical day in the US Education System is top-notch. (That is, if we're following your line of reasoning.)

          1. TMMason profile image60
            TMMasonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            It all belongs to the NEA, and Fed Dept. Of Ed., for all intent and purposes, they own it.

            The Public School System is only owned by you and I, not operated by.

  5. psycheskinner profile image84
    psycheskinnerposted 12 years ago

    There is also a problem with schools not reporting non-attendance, to retain payments for the child.  As a result truants are not detected and dealt with. 

    Not acceptable.

  6. psycheskinner profile image84
    psycheskinnerposted 12 years ago

    Public schools are for the most part run by boards made up from parents and other community members.  So, yes, effectively "us".

    1. Aficionada profile image78
      Aficionadaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I agree.  In our community, a lot of people that I know personally get very involved in elections to the school board, etc.  I even attended a school board meeting (once only, but still...).  Local communities can have an enormous impact on what their local school system is doing, and I believe that impact can be far greater than anything the NEA does.  States oversee education budgets and make many decisions about spending cuts and increases.

    2. TMMason profile image60
      TMMasonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Unions, and the Feds, have control of the Schools, Pscyche.... not parents. Your children go there to learn the basics in Saul Alinski and Socialist collectivism.

      http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/n … n-1658623/

      http://www.crossroad.to/Excerpts/chronologies/nea.htm

      I much prefer the NEA of the past,(their Citizens' Hand-book is linked below), before they were ruled by 7th grade Biology Teachers and Atheists.

      Witness the NEA’s 406 page, 1941,... (and it is this NEA that made America great, not this new neo-Marxist Atheist ruled tyranical indoctrination unit of today.), in all it glory as it recognizes God and Christianity in full fashion.

      1- "The American concept of … government had its roots in religious belief. This ideal of the brotherhood of man roots down into the fundamentals of religion. The teachings of the Hebrew Prophets and of Jesus Christ inculcate the idea of brotherhood. The growth of the idea gave us the concept of democracy in government. It ennobled home life. It emphasized the sacredness of human personality.

      Is it not plain that what the world needs just now is a new devotion to the great religious ideals? In statecraft, in business, in industry, in law, in the church, in science, or in teaching, can anything be more intensely fruitful and practical than a renewed faith in the higher and finer things of life? As Woodrow Wilson points out in “The Road Away From Revolution”:

      ‘Our civilization cannot survive materially unless it be redeemed spiritually. It can be saved only by becoming permeated with the spirit of Christ and being made free and happy by the practices which spring out of that spirit. Only thus can discontent be driven out and all the shadows lifted from the road ahead.’

      Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. – Matthew 7:12

      After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen – Matthew 6:9-13.

      Jesus said unto him, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’ – Matthew 22: 37-39

      All that from the 1941 NEA hand-book, and that is what is missing from our education today, and from the charactor of many of those who are in charge of teaching and moulding the minds of tomorrow."

      Sourced ---Morgan, Joy Elmer, arranged by. The American Citizens Handbook, The National Education Association, Washington D.C., 1941, p. 169.

      http://centerformoralliberalism.wordpre … l-farrell/

      A shame the mess they have become.

      Ant to think our Education System is not being used to push agendas at the expense of our childrens morals and intellect, is just blind.

 
working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)