APS school board: Playing politics while the system reels from CRCT mess
As a new reporter fresh out of graduate school, I worked at a paper in northern New Jersey and covered every board, commission and traffic accident in several towns. I liked school board detail least.
The first reason was that I was 23, had no kids and couldn’t muster enthusiasm for the long debates over what color to paint the high school halls — one school board member was a “colorist” and had strong feelings about soothing tones — or whether there ought to be stop sign or traffic light two blocks from the school. But the school boards also had the most political drama, the most intrigue. Almost immediately upon taking over the beat I would get phone calls from school board members assailing a colleague’s motives or alleging conspiracies. I could not understand how adults could get so caught up in what seemed petty power grabs, at least to a young reporter.
Those memories came back to me Monday when the Atlanta Board of Education devoted an inordinate amount of time to whether it could legally change the number of members necessary to oust the chair — which seems to the goal. It is not clear whether the next step after replacing the chair would be to go after the superintendent or simply take control to have tighter rein on the system.
The board — which started its work session late — then disappeared into executive sessions for a matter that I am still not sure qualified under open records law since this was no pending litigation but a difference of opinion on what the charter allowed and whether the board was free to seek legal advice directly from someone else. One board member had obtained a letter from the General Assembly legislative counsel, which she and her crew argued ought to prevail.
(I have to point out that the Legislature’s legal counsel has overseen many laws that are later overturned in court, so I am not sure why it is considered definitive. You only have to look at our half-baked sex offender laws that never held up in court to wonder what kind of legal advice the Legislature is getting. Of course, a big problem is that pandering lawmakers often ignore their legal counsel. That practice would end tomorrow if we only held elected officials personally liable for lawsuits resulting from stupid laws that they passed over the objections of their own legal counsel,)
These school board antics kept an audience of at least 200 people twiddling their thumbs. (Some of us used the time to discuss which is the most functional school board in metro Atlanta. Gwinnett was the consensus.)
What happens to smart people when they get elected to a public office?
How could five members of the nine-member APS board think this power play was more important than taking a lead on this CRCT mess and restoring public confidence in a system that has been badly damaged by confirmation of widespread cheating at 12 of its schools and troubling incidences at many more?
I agree with all the speakers during the public portion of the APS meeting: Whatever this plotting is about, stop it and get down to the serious problems at hand.
When the board did turn to the CRCT issue, it listened politely to Dr. Hall as she outlined a thorough and detailed report on how APS was going to respond to the Blue Ribbon Panel’s recommendations on cleaning up testing and providing help to students whose scores were altered. And they asked good questions, including how much was all this going to cost and how many kids were affected. Neither of those questions were answered.
It was also clear that there was a lot of support for Dr. Hall in that room among the parents and community members on hand. And those parents offered a reason that many of Hall’s critics overlook: These folks who live in Altanta and whose children and grandchildren attended APS know what the system used to be like. And they think Hall has changed it for the better. I talked to a woman raising her three grandchildren, all of whom attend APS schools. She told me that the system is “a world better from what it was when my own five children were there.”
Those at arm’s length who argue that Hall has to go aren’t talking to these parents and grandparents. Folks keep citing Clayton County and noting that I was a critic of that administration, but I went to a lot of parent meetings and school board meetings during the Clayton crisis. Those parents had a much differnet point of view; their system was not better. They were not happy with its direction. They organized against the board and the superintendent.
It is not just that Hall has the support of the chamber types; she has a lot of support from the real APS clients, the parents.
Should that matter?
As an editorial writer, I often had to ask myself why so many voters re-elected lawmakers who did nothing or did damage. Part of it is that those lawmakers often reached out to voters and paid attention to the smaller issues, and that’s what voters valued. Did the lawmaker help get new band uniforms? Did she or he show up at the community picnic? Did he or she take a picture with their son’s soccer team? Did they listen to complaints about lines at the car tag office?
Those are all small acts, but they matter to people. Hall has apparently done a lot of stuff that matters to parents. And that may be enough to keep her in office until she steps down next year.
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109 comments Add your comment
Maureen? Maureen?
August 17th, 2010
1:37 pm
As long as we are sending emails Maureen.
Why not send one to Kathy Augustine asking if she still stands by her statement that there is no need to look into the scores “because she expects outliers every year.”
How about one to the board chair asking if she still stands behind her statement that it was “impossible” that Hall knew anything about cheating?
Hope the Furious Five, if they are indeed trying to do the right thing, don’t blow it by allowing a self induced red herring to derail them.
Aquagirl
August 17th, 2010
1:50 pm
Can we get Maureen? Maureen? to run for the APS Board? Incessant whining, MEMEME focus, the attitude everyone exists to serve you, micromanagement, constant accusations of coverups…yep, there’s some real potential there.
There’s some decent, thoughtful commentary here, but it’s like trying to listen to grownups talk while a 5 year old wants attention.
Maureen? Maureen?
August 17th, 2010
1:54 pm
Sounds like someone jealous Maureen didn’t call their posts witty and well informed LOL.
Maureen? Maureen?
August 17th, 2010
1:56 pm
Now aqualgirl if you want to make a case about a lot of posts; guilty as charged. And you are more than welcome to point out any areas of disagreement with any of the posts made today.
Shar
August 17th, 2010
2:14 pm
If I was a dissident Board member I’d be further irritated by a “thorough and detailed report on how APS was going to respond to the Blue Ribbon Panel’s recommendations” when absolutely no one had yet endorsed the findings of said commission, and particularly when the report didn’t cover such foundation issues as how much it would cost and how many kids had been betrayed by greedy administrators. Why is Hall forging ahead willynilly without either approval or authority? Just another issue that calls into question her motives and intentions.
There may have been parents there who supported their individual schools, but the crowd of 200 was not necessarily representative of APS parents or Atlanta taxpayers. Mayor Reed most likely understands that the tax burden on Atlanta property owners has depressed home prices and driven voter anger, and that confiscating money to pay for a corrupt and nonfunctional system is politically impossible. APS has become all too comfortable telling the BOE how much money they want, and the BOE setting rates accordingly. That process will not be smooth this year, and Reed knows he’s looking at financial meltdown. No wonder he is taking a hand.
Attentive Parent
August 17th, 2010
2:24 pm
Two Questions that would help clarify APS use of the NAEP scores and would have made a nice addition to that “bomb of an article” that was already so damning that it had to be scrubbed.
1) The 2009 TUDA reading report says 1300 APS 4th graders and 900 8th graders took the NAEP test.
What were the total number of 4th graders in 2009 and 8th graders so we can calculate the percentage of test takers?
2) Since the report says the percentage of ELL students tested by APS in 4th grade was only 1%, how many APS 4th graders are classified as ELL?
The report further states that APS did not test enough Hispanics in either 4th or 8th for Hispanics to constitute a reporting group.
Why not?
That’s three but the last 2 are related.
Also the story failed to note the substantial revisions to the 2009 NAEP reading test. The excuse that all those changes do not matter because they are just new ways of testing reading comprehension was pretty weak.
It appears that the 2009 reading NAEP had to be dumbed down to reflect an overall decline in reading skills.
What % of APS students are Hispanic?
Attentive Parent
August 17th, 2010
2:28 pm
Sorry. That last line should be after the Why Not?
That’s what I get from glancing at my notes while typing.
@Attentive Parent
August 17th, 2010
2:28 pm
I wonder if the reporters on the NAEP/APS story got the same decontamination treatment from AJC bosses that Meryl Streep did in Silkwood?
Aquagirl
August 17th, 2010
2:43 pm
Well Maureen?Maureen? I’ll politely decline your invitation to reply to your posts, since you don’t extend the same courtesy to others–including Maureen— when the topic is anything but what you want to talk about. Sorry if that sounds mean but there’s no other way to really say it.
I’ll freely admit to not being an insider who flings about acronyms like they’re second nature; I’m sure you contribute valuable information both in your posts and in e-mails to Maureen. I admire your obvious dedication to not letting administrators or anyone else get away with being corrupt or just plain running the train off of a cliff. Unfortunately–and again, I’m saying this as kindly as I can—-you sound like you’re holding a private conversation with Maureen a la shrieking into a cellphone at the grocery store. But I have a feeling I’m missing some of your points just because your posts kind of make my eyes bleed. If that doesn’t bother you, it’s certainly a free country, and you’re certainly not obligated to consider anyone but Maureen when posting here. Have at it.
irisheyes
August 17th, 2010
2:48 pm
@honesty, THERE ARE NO TEACHERS UNIONS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA. PLEASE, PEOPLE, GET IT!!!
(Sorry for the all caps, but that is the one sentence that drives me crazy. If you are that uninformed, then there’s alot more about Georgia schools that you probably don’t get either.)
An advocate for public education change & choice
August 17th, 2010
2:58 pm
Though, I often try to refrain from drifting into the land of esoteric speculation, allow me to briefly detour there. Is it plausible that the so-called “Furious Five” or some subset therein have been biding time throughout this process and in face of what the BRC’s report have wrought have desided that now is the time for them to take more aggressive action? Given the overly political environment that is the APS BOE & Central Office, I can’t blame the group for taking measures to ensure they are on solid footing before throwing down the gauntlet.
@ Maureen – I believe they were trying to hang there hat on the following as justification for going into Executive Session:
–Discuss employment, periodic evaluations or disciplinary actions regarding a public officer or employee. However, the presentation of evidence or argument in disciplinary cases must be open. And any action taken must occur at an open meeting. Meetings to discuss personnel policies in general must be open.
However to your point, I agree there is STRONG argument that suggests the move was not within the acceptable bounds of invoking executive session.
Heavyhitter
August 17th, 2010
3:02 pm
Dr Hall, please pack your bags, clean out your desk and start looking for a new job. You would save us all a lot of time and allow us to start the search for your replacement. Now Dr Hall, Please.
Maureen Downey
August 17th, 2010
3:16 pm
@An advocate, They invoked the attorney-client privilege exemption to go into closed session, which states:
An advocate for public education change & choice
August 17th, 2010
3:17 pm
@irisheyes – While your statement is technically correct, it’s practically speaking misleading. There are organizations that operate in principally in manner consistant with a Union but simply lack that formal definition. Specifically these groups do spend alot of money to lobby the GA legislature and local boards on behalf of the positions they acvocate. That doesn’t necessarily make them bad but it does make them just as influencial in this state as the AFT or NEA. Tomato, Toe Mato in my book.
@Attentive Parent – According to March, 2009 FTE counts published for APS, there were approximately 3,985 4th graders and 3,108 8th graders enrolled. Therefore that would me based on your NAEP counts approximately 32.6% of 4th graders and 28.9% of 8th graders were NAEP tested within APS.
reality
August 17th, 2010
3:25 pm
Parents and Grandparents that are supporting the administration(s) at APS or specific schools are throwing their kids under the bus! Anyone with minimal common sense can see that the system is broken, corrupt, and unethical. “Better than before” is like the bum that exchanges his shoes for a pair found at the curb because the “new” pair only has 2 holes in each. There is more than enough money thrown at APS to get better results. Enough excuses already.
@advocate
August 17th, 2010
3:32 pm
@irisheyes – While your statement is technically correct, it’s practically speaking misleading. There are organizations that operate in principally in manner consistant with a Union but simply lack that formal definition.
As a practical matter I’m not really sure how misleading it is. For example how many true unions represent workers and management, as PAGE and GAE do?
Another Mom
August 17th, 2010
3:49 pm
Maureen, who are the “Furious Five?”
An advocate for public education change & choice
August 17th, 2010
3:51 pm
@irisheyes – What’s misleading is you boldly declare there are no teachers union’s in GA, which to me suggests there are no organizations operating in GA which wield a simular influence on public policy.
My basic point is PAGE and GAE have opportunity to get their voice added to the discussion about as much as the NEA or AFT. The fact their voice may not net policies that align with the positions they advocate for is another matter.
another concerned parent
August 17th, 2010
3:53 pm
The “Furious five” are not out for a power grab- they are the only ones actually listening to what going on. It’s Hall, Burks, and the AEF (and their PR firms) they are up against. I applaud them for finally trying to take control of the situation. I wish they would publicly take a stand and explain to everyone what is happening behind closed doors.
Lynn43
August 17th, 2010
4:04 pm
From:” A Guide to School Law in Georgia”, p. 46 5.20 by Harben and Hartley. “The board may enter into an executive session or closed session for the following reasons:
_Discussions protected by the attorney-client privilege
_Student disciplinary proceedings
_Discussions regarding the acquisitions of real estate
_Discussions regarding certain personnel issues
_Discussions involving an individual student’s educational records.
Also, in section 5.21: “in order to consult and meet with legal counsel pertaining to pending or potential litigation, settlement, claims, administrative proceedings, or other judicial actions brought or to be brought by or against the (school district) or any officer or employee”.
The board attorney, who should be in the meeting, is supposed to sign a legal document stating that nothing but these topics were discussed.
Do any of these topics fit. I hope I gave Sam and Phil enough credit.
No Fun
August 17th, 2010
4:11 pm
Most of the parents of school age children were educated in APS, this would explain the lack of intellect and good judgement evidenced by the continued support of Dr. Hall. Further, Bill Campbell was elected mayor two times dispite ample evidence of corruption and incompetence. The citizens of Atlanta tolerated and supported the reign of Chief Pennington right up until the murder of Kathryn Johnston. So no one should be surprises that masses vocally support corruption, incompetence and croynism. The only hope for APS is that the state will do the right thing by the children of Atlanta!
Support or denial?
August 17th, 2010
4:15 pm
Denial is a not uncommon psychological response to this situation. Remember how many people rallied around Jim Bakker when the Jessica Hahn story broke?
ITP Mom
August 17th, 2010
4:41 pm
@No Fun – That’s a pretty broad brush you are painting with.
I live in Atlanta, have children in an APS school (with 0% in the cheating investigation), didn’t go to school in an APS school, didn’t vote for Mayor Campbell either time, and didn’t support the reign of Chief Pennington (Are you kidding? My husband is a cop.). I also periodically email my APS Board Representative to share regarding my (negative) impressions of Dr. Hall and Butler-Burkes, and also to share other opinions on APS.
Further, I do know people who were educated in APS schools and I would not consider them to be lacking in intellect or good judgement.
Your comments lack any basis in fact and are inflammatory and contribute nothing constructive to the discussion.
chillywilly
August 17th, 2010
4:50 pm
@No Fun,
For a moment, I thought you were talking about George W. Bush.
However, I do think that Beverly Hall should resign immediately and take those non performing, overpaid folks from Legal, Instruction, Technology, & Finance with you.
Who are the Furious Five?
August 17th, 2010
5:04 pm
You might say the biggest difference between the Furious Five and Beverly Hall is that Beverly Hall has exhibited self righteous indignation along every step of the way, and the Furious Five might finally be exhibiting the righteous anger needed to effect positive change.
bootney farnsworth
August 17th, 2010
5:22 pm
if Beverly Hall sacrificed a kid to Satan on live TV would that be enough for the AJC to get out of bed with her?
probably not
No Fun
August 17th, 2010
5:42 pm
ITP: I certainly don’ t mean to offend you but I stand by my comments. The masses in ATL have repeated supported incompetence and corruption. If you don’t fit the bill, great but there is a great deal of evidence that ATL’s electorate is basing it’s decisions on something other than competence and character.
hey now
August 17th, 2010
6:05 pm
Enter Sam Williams…uh oh
WSB has weighed in on the farce
Hall, Burks and Williams need to resign
Sharon McEachern
August 17th, 2010
6:32 pm
And check out our colleges and universities. Everyone — both students and professors — are cheating. Ethic Soup has a good post on this:
http://www.ethicsoup.com/2008/11/everyone-is-cheating-college-students-and-their-professors.html
chillywilly
August 17th, 2010
6:34 pm
@hey now,
I saw that WSB report regarding Sam Williams, Burks, & Hall. Nowwwwwwwwwww we have us a smoking gun.
Can you post the link to that email? Thanks.
Ed Johnson
August 17th, 2010
7:16 pm
From: Sam A. Williams [mailto:swilliams@macoc.com]
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 5:08 PM
Subject: APS CRCT Update
I wanted to provide you with an update on the Atlanta Public Schools “CRCT” testing and potential cheating issue which was discussed at length at our executive committee meeting last week. As an outcome of that meeting, and given the sense of urgency felt by the business community and others, the Metro Atlanta Chamber and the Atlanta Education Fund (AEF) have led several discussions over the last several days with business leaders, Beverly Hall and APS Board Chair LaChandra Butler Burks. Following are the immediate next steps:
• On Monday, March 1, the APS Board will introduce a resolution that requests the AEF to commission an independent investigation and create a Blue Ribbon Task Force to help guide the work of the investigation.
• The Blue Ribbon Task Force will be chaired by Gary Price, market managing partner for PricewaterhouseCoopers, and supported and staffed jointly by the AEF and the Chamber. The task force is scheduled to hold its first meeting on Wednesday, March 3. Other task force members tentatively include John Rice, LaChandra Butler Burks, Dennis Lockhart, Penny McPhee, Milton Jones, Thelma Malone, Curley Dossman, Helene Lollis, Jack Capers, Beverly Tatum and Ingrid Saunders Jones.
• A firm will be selected on March 3 to perform the investigation and make recommendations regarding implementation of best in class test monitoring methods, with the goal of ensuring that the upcoming April tests results are unassailable.
We will let the facts from this investigation guide us in our support of Dr. Hall and the next steps the Atlanta Public Schools system needs to take. Thank you for your leadership and support and we will keep you apprised of this situation.
Sam
Sam A. Williams
President
Metro Atlanta Chamber
235 Andrew Young International Blvd.,NW • Atlanta, GA 30303
404.586.8434. FAX 404.586.8469
swilliams@macoc.com • http://www.MetroAtiantaChamber.com
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Dee Dee
August 17th, 2010
7:37 pm
I am in agreement with the comment that Hall, Burks, and Williams need to resign. Also, I find it interesting that the current and former mayor have stepped up to the plate and entered the fray. Is it because their puppet handlers (Chamber of Commerce) have demanded that they do so? Meanwhile, who really cares about the students?
Dee Dee
August 17th, 2010
7:41 pm
“Who are the Furious Five”? Probably the only members on the school who care about students. The others are in the pockets of the Chamber and Beverly Hall. Sadly, the “Furious Five” should get some good lawyers because the Chamber, Mayor, and media will thoroughly feed them to the wolves for daring to step out of line.
Concerned 1
August 17th, 2010
7:47 pm
The parents you talked to were at the schools where principals were ousted. These parents want confidence restored to their schools. There is only one honorable thing to do. Every one is replaceable.
APS school board: Playing politics while the system reels from CRCT mess – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Legal Advice Links
August 17th, 2010
7:50 pm
[...] APS school board: Playing politics while the system reels from CRCT messAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)You only have to look at our half-baked sex offender laws that never held up in court to wonder what kind of legal advice the Legislature is getting. …School board coup delayed after Kasim sweeps inCreative Loafing Atlanta [...]
Somebody steal a catchphrase
August 17th, 2010
8:08 pm
Can’t some enterprising entrepreneur come up with a “I Support The Furious Five” T-Shirt?
APS Parent SMH
August 17th, 2010
8:48 pm
Well I was there yesterday (and last night). I know what I heard and I know what I saw. @Maureen that audience was SO anti-Hall. Maybe your corner of the room was otherwise, but again, I know what I heard and I know what I saw. On more than one occasion parents cheered and applauded when the threats of voting out the board in the next election was mentioned from the floor during the community meeting. All around me educators, employees and parents whispered and made side comments in agreement with the Furious Five. I was actually quite surprised. Since we’ve lived here and been in APS, I’ve found employees to be extremely sheepish. Afraid of speaking out for fear of some kind of “retaliation.” Afraid to mis-step or they may never make it out of the classroom and into administrative positions. But last night was different. People were on fire! And the overwhelming feeling in the room was one of wanting to do the right thing for CHILDREN, at any cost.
@maureen? maureen? I noticed that you suggested several times that a vote should have been taken. Well it was. A vote was taken, against the advice of the APS counsel (go figure) and the result was 5 to 4 in favor of changing the charter. Now I know that @Maureen doesn’t want to believe that the state legislature could be correct on this point, but last night it was clear to me as a parent that I had to choose to side with the state representative and his findings OR the legal counsel retained by APS. Excuse me as I step over to the side of the legislature and their lawyers. There wasn’t any wiggle room last night when the vote was taken.
Then, after I left, I guess Reed appeared. Hmmm, how can they table a “vote” that has already taken place? Seriously, @Maureen please explain this one to me. My p-procedures are not what they used to be LOL.
I know that last night felt like the “wrong time” to have this discussion of policy and charter changes, but if not now, when? In this horrible climate is there ever going to be a good time for the board to have this discussion?
Finally, and I’m sorry if this post is all over the place but my two little ones are bouncing off the ceiling (bedtime), I was SO PROUD to see all of the parents that turned out last night to demand answers as to why their principals were removed from their schools without any kind of parent notification before, during or after the removal. They really stood up for themselves. The looks on the faces of the board members as parents threatened to take away THEIR jobs was priceless.
Do I believe cheating took place? Absolutely. Do I believe that the 12 are the only schools that should be on the “hit list?” Absolutely not…all you have to do is read @springdale park mom’s posts over the past weeks to know that. At the end of the day the board and APS need to realize that WE PARENTS are the owners of this team. Last night I saw a beautiful thing, I saw parents who have finally discovered that they have power.
You would never know by this that I write for a living! Goodnight!
Maureen Downey
August 17th, 2010
9:02 pm
@APS Parent, I think you are responding to both me and the poster who uses my name. To address your address of his point; I think he is suggesting that the five should force a vote on the major issue at hand: Dr. Hall’s tenure, not on the procedure issues of whether a simple or two-third majority can replace the board chair. I am still not sure why that has to be done now, as there seems to be more pressing issues. I am still unsure why the rule change matters so much right now.
Maureen
APS Parent SMH
August 17th, 2010
9:19 pm
@Maureen – yes, I was trying to address you both. Sorry for the confusion. Forcing a vote for her tenure is the wrong thing to do at this time. I have to agree with you on that point. She’s out next summer anyway…what good would that do now? By the way, THANK YOU for all the work you’ve done on this issue to date. I have become such a fan that I was sitting in the audience last night thinking “I wonder which of these folks is Maureen?” Keep doing what you’re doing. I don’t always agree with you, but I appreciate your tenacity when it comes to reporting on education and your fortitude when it comes to standing by your opinion.
Procedural Question
August 17th, 2010
9:48 pm
About last night’s executive session: Can a motion be introduced by someone other than the board chair, and seconded by someone other than the board chair, to remove Dr. Hall?
In other words, does the board chair have the power to stop that type of motion dead in its tracks, and that’s the reason the emphasis was put on the charter to be changed last night?
It doesn’t seem likely the board chair has that kind of power, but if she doesn’t what was the motivation for last night’s actions?
Another Mom
August 17th, 2010
10:04 pm
Maureen – Who specifically are the “furious five?” Can you name them?
Maureen Downey
August 17th, 2010
10:12 pm
ANother Mom, Yolanda Johnson, Brenda Muhammad, Nancy Meister, Khaatim Sherrer El, Courtney English
yjohnson@atlantapublicschools.us;
bmuhammad@atlantapublicschools.us;
nmeister@atlanta.k12.ga.us;
khaatimsel@atlantapublicschools.us;
cenglish@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Praise be
August 17th, 2010
10:25 pm
All hail the Furious Five!
Suburbia
August 17th, 2010
10:31 pm
And somewhere in Alpharetta, a man trembles in mortal fear, hoping against hope no one mentions his name.
Queen
August 17th, 2010
10:54 pm
Maureen, thank you for your pesistence in fighting for our children.
Dr. John Trotter
August 18th, 2010
1:36 am
Maureen: I have been busy today preparing a new MACE brochure and just now looked at this blog. Looks like the Beverly Hall Administration is imploding. I tend to agree with Bootney’s observation that the AJC seems to refuse to get out of bed with Hall. But, I do like the reporting. Sooner or later, Hall will leave totally disgraced. Well, you can chalk another one up to MACE. We have been calling the Atlanta Board of Education the “Chamber Board” for years in our literature, picketing, etc. Now are you beginning to believe what we have been saying for years, viz., that the Atlanta School System under the so-called leadership is corrupt to the core. Yes, our refrain again is that “Beverly Hall Must Go!”
Ralph Long
August 18th, 2010
7:26 am
Dr. Hall and The Impressions, “You’ve Been Cheatin’”
Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uajchd0FEA
Ralph Long
Producer
Biscuits N Gravy Productions
(770) 616-2130
another APS teacher
August 18th, 2010
7:53 am
@Maureen: People are happy when their kids get good grades. Here in APS we got rid of the “D” back in 2007. we give connections classes and Core classes the same weights. We do not retain students. Teachers are mandated to give more weight to CLASSWORK than to TESTS. All of this so students will FEEL successful rather than BE successful.
Am I the only one who knows that this is not the way to make a system better? It is not the way to insure a well educated population? I was actually told once that instead of having my class read an entire novel (I was a reading teacher that year), I should have each group of students read a portion and then they could tell each other about it. On a completely separate occasion I was told that a child can learn to do fractions without knowing how to multiply and divide. Both of these discussions were with APS administrators.
A better education? Better than what?
Really amazed
August 18th, 2010
9:40 am
@anotherAPSteacher, why is it that parents of these children act like they are totally unaware as to what is taking place at their children’s school when it come to the inflated grading going on?????? I guess your right in the fact that they only want to see good grades, not hard core truth about just what little Susie/Johnny truly knows. I have seen and heard time and time again that D’s and F’s are a thing of the past. A c is the new F and even then you rarely see that even on a report card, go in complain and wham!!! Susie/Johnny has a B or even an A. Please do not even bother responding that not your school parent. Teachers, please don’t say not my classroom, you know you have to listen to admin even if you don’t want to change the grade. These high schools have so many chances for test re-do’s that if by your second chance or third you can’t make at least a c it will be given for effort anyway. This isn’t learning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is only going to prevent Susie/Johnny from getting all the way through college.
Seeking Enlightment
August 18th, 2010
11:21 am
I am new to Atlanta and recently enrolled my children in the public school system. I performed some basic research prior to enrolling them and I made my decision based upon facts. Some of those facts are listed on the APS website. Like in 2009, the superintendent was named the National Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators, the country’s top professional honor for a K-12 education leader. In addition, she won recognition as the 2009 State Superintendent of the Year by the Georgia School Superintendents Association. This was just last year, so I was under the impression that the school system was being governed by a very capable leader. I also assumed that her success could only be possible with a very supportive board. The APS Board structure was a welcomed change for me since I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio where the Board of Education is made up of nine voting members appointed by the Mayor of Cleveland from a slate of nominees selected by a local nominating panel, established under State law. So now that I have become aware of the internal SPATS, I have a few questions that I need clarification on. 1. Did the Board Chair participate in some sort of cover up involving the CRCT test cheating? 2. Specifically, why is she being removed? 3. Did the Superintendent participate in some sort of cover up involving the CRCT test cheating? 4. Specifically, why is she being removed? 3. If the Board Chair and Superintendent are removed, will the Furious Five return the principals of their schools? Just a new resident seeking clarity from a panel of folks who seem to be in the “know”. Thanks.