Cheating Scandal in Atlanta Public Schools

[DrPhil]

I agree, AGDee. As a product of public schools, I remember when zones were changed so that the public schools could be ranked in terms of "haves/smart kids/other high status groups" and "have nots/smart kids/other low status groups." Before then, each school was more diverse in terms of social class, family background, race and ethnicity, and therefore (since these are highly correlated) school performance and educational attainment. I'm sure people can figure out what the outcome of that was and that persisted even after the state provided funding for the "have not" schools. What Joe Clark did is a rarity. And there are families who would transfer if they could financially and legally do so. But, we don't want everyone to transfer, that would defeat the purpose and admit that there are lesser schools. Yikes. Remember the cases of Tonya McDowell and Yolanda Miranda who both got caught lying about their addresses for school purposes?


I say, again, what is going on in APS is going on in other public schools systems (especially those that serve particular demographics) across the country. I'm not concerned with the cheating scandal (that has been caught) but with why they felt the need to do this. I doubt it was just loser teachers and staff who were too darn lazy and wanted to misappropriate funds. But, if people insist that's what the issue is, why are these schools being given teachers and staff who are lazy losers who want to misappropriate funds? That type of thing wouldn't fly in certain school districts.

The issues of school resources, standardized tests, zoning, and districting have been discussed since the 1980s. These issues are assessed based on outcome and not intent. The intent of having standardized tests is not the point. No one is saying standardized tests are THE problem; nor are people blaming those who thought/think tests are a good idea--I consider tests to be a decent idea ONLY when students (across schools and across districts) are given the proper preparation. The outcome of these tests and zoning across the country is the real point. The outcome reveals some issues that people across the country have been finding various ways to address.

/long post