[Yinekol]

Teachers cheating just for so they don't have to take responsibility. Sure no child left behind was a monumental waste but this isn't just bad to me it is criminal. They are stealing our children's future cause they are lazy.

178 Teachers & Principals Named: Atlanta Schools Created Culture of Cheating & Fear | Breaking news and opinion on The Blaze

ATLANTA (AP) — Teachers spent nights huddled in a back room, erasing wrong answers on students’ test sheets and filling in the correct bubbles. At another school, struggling students were seated next to higher-performing classmates so they could copy answers.

Those and other confessions are contained in a new state report that reveals how far some Atlanta public schools went to raise test scores in the nation’s largest-ever cheating scandal. Investigators concluded that nearly half the city’s schools allowed the cheating to go unchecked for as long as a decade, beginning in 2001.

[gusecrync]

Teachers cheating just for so they don't have to take responsibility. Sure no child left behind was a monumental waste but this isn't just bad to me it is criminal. They are stealing our children's future cause they are lazy.

178 Teachers & Principals Named: Atlanta Schools Created Culture of Cheating & Fear | Breaking news and opinion on The Blaze

Typical Republican response. Don't give the schools any more money, just crack the whip, overseer, make those slaves lift that bale.

Throw some teachers in prison because their students copy and buy another aircraft carrier, that'll make it all right.

[Yinekol]

Typical Republican response. Don't give the schools any more money, just crack the whip, overseer, make those slaves lift that bale.

Throw some teachers in prison because their students copy and buy another aircraft carrier, that'll make it all right.

Not a republican I am a conservative ....yet just like a liberal progressive to ignore what was posted.

[CatLuvkaLover]

I cannot begin to explain to everyone the mess this is causing Atlanta Schools. Politically here, as well as all the local news coverage, has turned this into a nightmare.

[Yinekol]

I cannot begin to explain to everyone the mess this is causing Atlanta Schools. Politically here, as well as all the local news coverage, has turned this into a nightmare.

It is a nightmare.

[CatLuvkaLover]

It is a nightmare.

Teachers will fight call to resign | ajc.com

Some of the 178 Atlanta Public Schools employees implicated in the district's ongoing cheating scandal say they will fight for their jobs despite calls to resign or face termination.

Interim Superintendent Erroll Davis sent letters home Friday to employees who confessed to cheating or who were named by state investigators, giving them until Wednesday to quit. School officials said they would start termination proceedings against those who stay, in keeping with Davis' promise that educators found to have cheated "are not going to be put in front of children again." The Georgia Association of Educators, which is providing legal assistance to members implicated in the report, said it is also hearing complaints of inaccuracies and inconsistencies and that it is advising members not to resign.

The group and other professional organizations are encouraging the district to investigate each case fairly and make individual determinations. Educators contractually are entitled to due process, meaning officials must issue a "charge" with details about the cause for termination and submit the recommendation to the school board. The losing party has the right to appeal. There is now dispute over actually owning up to this, with conflicting reports over the accuracy of the findings on who participated in the cheating. Some appear to be going with the "was not me" defense. While others probably very guilty are being offered the chance to resign first. It is becoming a fiasco here in ATL trying to determine who did what, when, and who all knew about it.

A few more local articles on this mess. You'll like the last one, ex-Superintendent Beverly Hall is refusing to give back bonuses that are tied to test scores, these fraud filled test scores. Something north of a half million.

APS to teachers in scandal: Resign or be fired | ajc.com

APS board member wants Hall to pay back bonuses | ajc.com

[Yinekol]

Teachers will fight call to resign | ajc.com





There is now dispute over actually owning up to this, with conflicting reports over the accuracy of the findings on who participated in the cheating. Some appear to be going with the "was not me" defense. While others probably very guilty are being offered the chance to resign first. It is becoming a fiasco here in ATL trying to determine who did what, when, and who all knew about it.

A few more local articles on this mess. You'll like the last one, ex-Superintendent Beverly Hall is refusing to give back bonuses that are tied to test scores, these fraud filled test scores. Something north of a half million.

APS to teachers in scandal: Resign or be fired | ajc.com

APS board member wants Hall to pay back bonuses | ajc.com

It is disturbing. These are the people we leave our kids with for 7 hours a day. No wonder home schooling is on the raise.

[BlackBird]

Typical Republican response. Don't give the schools any more money, just crack the whip, overseer, make those slaves lift that bale.

Throw some teachers in prison because their students copy and buy another aircraft carrier, that'll make it all right.

What the hell does this have to do with Republican or Democrat? Who said anything about school funding? Furthermore, are you suggesting that nothing should happen to these teachers who defrauded the school system on the public dime?

How about trying to bottle up all your bitterness and hate for about five minutes and objectively assess the situation here, assuming critical thinking is even within your capacity.

[feannigvogten]

It's a shame.

I value the friends I made in public schools, but I don't think I can subject my children to that.

It's not just this kind of abhorrent corruption, rampant propaganda, and shameless political manipulation, it's the simple fact that even at their best, the public schools really don't teach people how to do anything useful.

[CatLuvkaLover]

Typical Republican response. Don't give the schools any more money, just crack the whip, overseer, make those slaves lift that bale.

Throw some teachers in prison because their students copy and buy another aircraft carrier, that'll make it all right.

This has nothing to do with Republican / Democrat positions on funding levels for public schools, or really anything at all to do with what you are saying. This is about policy, and a school system's plan to defraud it.

This is the unintended consequence of "no child left behind" and similar theory about teaching our kids with the assurance coming from standardized testing. This is about linking performance exclusively to the results of these standardized tests, more to the point what happens when a school system is not up to par. This is about the realized effect, teachers no longer teaching subjects or really educating our kids but rather teaching what will be on the test with in this case the Atlanta school system having a fall back plan. Widespread test answer changes by teachers, administrators, etc. As in actual erase one anwser and replace with the correct one in a fraud based effort to improve test scores of which they are rated on. Note, not teach the kids or improve the situation... fraud.

This was the actual realized effect in the Atlanta school system and the results of this is what we are discussing. Now that they have all been busted everyone is doing what is to be expected next... finger point and ass cover from administration in the Atlanta school system, to the teachers union, to politicans all the way up to the governor of the state having to deal with this shit. It is what happens when politics is over and everyone involved gives themselves a pat on the back while in the back ground you have actual documented fraud to ensure the school system performs well in the eyes of legislation. The hell with the kids, the hell with education, the hell with actually teaching them... just ensure we look good and get the old out ready for the next wave of kids they have no intention of teaching. While keeping up what everyone already knows "no child left behind" really does... leaves kids behind all along the way while school systems protect themselves, their employees, and their funding.

Now I can only assume from your post you suspect this is all about Republican ideas on funding levels, which I guess can be expected. However, if you suggest that the Atlanta School system did this out of a lack of proper funding level to educate the kids it would be easy for me to then suggest you approve of what these guys did. Which in itself is truly sad, but not near as sad as having these kids sold out for basically the next funding check. Speak of, the ex-Superintendent plans to keep her half million in bonuses as they were linked to these performance scores as well. You know, the ones full of fraud you seem to be supporting since these educators are so beaten to "lift the next bale."

[Yinekol]

This to me is why education should stay a state business. I have many other beliefs on education but the Federal grant money is a disaster. It doesnt work. Has never worked. You cant throw money at a problem and pray it gets better.

[feannigvogten]

Education starts and ends in the home.

No amount of state or federal funding can get a kid to learn.

[Yinekol]

Education starts and ends in the home.

No amount of state or federal funding can get a kid to learn.

Thats a cop out. I am not asking them to teach my child how to be a good person. I am asking them to teach math, history and reading. I am also paying top dollar through taxes for this. What do I get? Kids dont know the constitution, or can add 2 + 2. Instead they are being taught to cheat. Can we demand a refund?

[yK2VgoEI]

The children are the real losers here. How may kids have received a diploma without the benefit of an education? While this form of cheating may be new, passing kids without teaching them has gone on in New Orleans for quite some time. Fortier High School had a student who was suppose to be the valedictorian but she didn't graduate because she couldn't pass the GEE and she did poorly on the ACT. Any teacher caught passing a student who hasn't learned should be fired and it sounds like Atlanta needs a complete overhaul.

[Ngdyoysv]

Thats a cop out. I am not asking them to teach my child how to be a good person. I am asking them to teach math, history and reading. I am also paying top dollar through taxes for this. What do I get? Kids dont know the constitution, or can add 2 + 2. Instead they are being taught to cheat. Can we demand a refund?

no refunds, but you should definitely fire anyone implicated in the scandal with any amount of real proof against them and hire the cream of the crop of teachers who need jobs.

And he's right. It's also the responsibility of the parent to ensure their child is receiving that education. Ask your kid about the constitution. Ask them about math. Literature etc. Even if something like this is happening you should be able to pick up on it before it gets this far and fucks up their education.

[Ngdyoysv]

This to me is why education should stay a state business. I have many other beliefs on education but the Federal grant money is a disaster. It doesnt work. Has never worked. You cant throw money at a problem and pray it gets better.

The problem is most states wouldn't be able to keep their schools doors open without that federal grant money. I know texas gets a bit over half our education funds from the fed. And sure districts with high property values would have no real problems ditching the fed money. (prop taxes pay for education in tx) But poorer districts would be hosed. Most wouldn't be able to keep their doors open.

[Yinekol]

The problem is most states wouldn't be able to keep their schools doors open without that federal grant money. I know texas gets a bit over half our education funds from the fed. And sure districts with high property values would have no real problems ditching the fed money. (prop taxes pay for education in tx) But poorer districts would be hosed. Most wouldn't be able to keep their doors open.

Bullshit. They can keep thier doors open they would just have to cut the fat

[BlackBird]

Thats a cop out. I am not asking them to teach my child how to be a good person. I am asking them to teach math, history and reading. I am also paying top dollar through taxes for this. What do I get? Kids dont know the constitution, or can add 2 + 2. Instead they are being taught to cheat. Can we demand a refund?

No, it's not a cop out; it's the truth. If the parents don't give a crap about the kid's education, then the kid isn't going to give a crap and no amount of tax dollars funneled into the school is going to change that.

[BlackBird]

The problem is most states wouldn't be able to keep their schools doors open without that federal grant money. I know texas gets a bit over half our education funds from the fed. And sure districts with high property values would have no real problems ditching the fed money. (prop taxes pay for education in tx) But poorer districts would be hosed. Most wouldn't be able to keep their doors open.

So how is it that schools functioned before all of this federal interference? You know the Dept of Education wasn't created until the Carter administration, right? Strangely, Americans overall were getting a better education before its creation than they are now.

[Yinekol]

No, it's not a cop out; it's the truth. If the parents don't give a crap about the kid's education, then the kid isn't going to give a crap and no amount of tax dollars funneled into the school is going to change that.

Sounds great except the fact that if they need us to teach our kids math history and reading then what am I paying the teacher for? It is bad enough I have to correct what the teacher teaches to my kids.