City councilman: Still reason to be proud of APS diploma
Here is a piece by C.T. Martin, the “Dean” of the Atlanta City Council. He was elected in 1990 and represents District 10. He is also a graduate of an APS, a system that he says still has reason to be proud:
By C.T. Martin,
In 1869, Dr. Daniel O’Keefe faced fierce opposition from the city’s elite when he led the charge for the establishment of a public school system in Atlanta. The municipality’s well-heeled didn’t have the slightest desire in supporting a system in which their children would not attend since they were sent to privileged private schools.
City Council members, however, made O’Keefe’s resolution law. Thanks to O’Keefe, access to education for most of the city’s citizens was born. This was, of course, a good thing. However, there was also a less palatable racial caveat. The following year, in 1870, the first Public School Act of Georgia mandated separate black and white schools.
I’ll be clear. The negative impact of the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal will be with us for some time. But we mustn’t lose perspective here. Frankly, there’s been no history of a cheating scandal before this one.
The heritage of Atlanta’s schools includes many not-so-good and good years. The good has outnumbered the not-so-good. Ministers’ associations led by Daddy King, Joe Boone, John Boone, the Atlanta Summit (which I am proud to have been a member), organizations such as the NAACP and a slew of local educational leaders fought the good fight for educational access and equality in teacher’s pay, this in an atmosphere in which the city’s constitution required segregation by law and with governors all too willing to enforce it for cheap political gain.
We will get past a cheating scandal because we have to. Free access to education remains pressing, especially in these uncertain economic times and a changing economy that demands an educated workforce. The computer age is here to stay.
In the scheme of things, Atlanta’s schools have not done too badly. They’ve produced such notables as Martin Luther King, Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy, lawyer and business executive Vernon Jordan, celebrity judge Glenda Hatchett, U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, businessman Herman Russell. As are many of my colleagues on the City Council, I am a proud product of APS.
Each year thousands of new and inspiring graduates are produced by APS like Deonte Bridges, who last year became the first African American male valedictorian of Booker T. Washington Senior Academy in more than a decade. He did it through hard work and with the support of dedicated teachers. Deonte faced challenges but overcame them, from drug enticements, robbery at gunpoint, the untimely death of his brother and other emotional setbacks. His family, like so many others, did not have deep pockets to afford a private education.
Had the elite of the city’s early days had their way, most of us would not have been able to become educated to make significant contributions to our city, state, the nation and the world in which we live.
Consider these recent APS achievements as well:
Under the BuildSmart plan, a billion dollars was invested in constructing and renovating state-of-the-art schools. From school years 1999-2000 to 2010-2011, APS built 17 new schools and renovated more than 60 others, thanks to taxpayer support from SPLOST.
APS established the 21st Century Atlanta Scholars program to prepare high-performing students for admission to selective New England colleges known as “Little Ivies.” In 2010, 100 percent of the first class of 21st Century Scholars graduated from college on time, with degrees from these prestigious institutions.
APS produced the highest number of Gates Millennium Scholars over the past three years — 69 students have earned the scholarship from 2009-2011.
As you have read, Gov. Nathan Deal and other officials have announced that they would look into what legal action can be taken against those involved in the scandal. Fine. But, still, how do we fix this — to lessen its likelihood from happening again?
Maybe, we need to revisit the school’s relationship with the Chamber of Commerce. It’s good to have input from all sectors of the community, but today the business community plays an enormous role in the APS, from the choice of superintendent to school policy. That wasn’t the case in the not-so-distant past. Our system, as a result, has lost its independence.
Also, I do not doubt the intentions of programs such as No Child Left Behind, but I wonder whether providing bonuses for achievement contributed to the scandal. As any experienced teacher knows, students don’t magically blossom simultaneously on test day. Those of us outside of the profession can only imagine the pressure to meet these goals to ensure their livelihoods.
And let us not forget that the great majority (2,816 of the system’s 3,000) teachers weren’t involved in the scandal and that the relationship between teacher and student remains among the most beneficial and endearing in our society today.
With all of our school system’s many achievements, the perception of mass cheating by every teacher and student persists. Thousands of recent graduates are asking how valuable is their APS diploma.
Recently, a 2000 graduate questioned his mother (who is a teacher) asking, “What do I do with my degree? Be proud or ashamed?” I say he should be proud. But fix the system we must—and we will, so that there’s no repeat performance to tarnish a system that doesn’t deserve it.
This is a city that survived a race riot in 1906 to become the city “ too busy to hate.” The Great Atlanta Fire of 1917 reduced attendance in Atlanta’s public schools by two-thirds. They’re still there, by the way, the students, only many more, awaiting the imminent renewal.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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122 comments Add your comment
bootney farnsworth
July 23rd, 2011
11:05 pm
APS#2,
not following.
are you saying Sonny did or didn’t contribute to the problem?
bootney farnsworth
July 23rd, 2011
11:09 pm
“Recently, a 2000 graduate questioned his mother (who is a teacher) asking, “What do I do with my degree? Be proud or ashamed?”
this mythical grad needs only look in the mirror for his/her answer.
did you do the work? do you put in real effort? did you learn something?
if yes, then of course be proud.
if no……
as to what to do with an HS degree?
simple.
build on it.
APS Parent #2
July 23rd, 2011
11:12 pm
For whatever reason, Sonny Perdue ended up sticking with his guns on investigating the APS cheating scandal. Sticking with his guns on the investigation helped uncover the systemic cheating.
No matter his reasons for sticking with the investigation (ie, whether the Democratic business owners hold the prison contracts), I’ll credit it to Sonny Perdue. Without his obstinance, APS would be mailng more Keith Bromery flyers touting the accomplishments of Dr. Beverly Hall and APS under her leadership and we’d all be buying it.
APS Parent #2
July 23rd, 2011
11:13 pm
@bootney…I agree with your comments about how any high school student including an APS high school student should value his or her high school diploma…build on it. A high school diploma is nothing to brag about – it is just a beginning.
bootney farnsworth
July 23rd, 2011
11:15 pm
“As you have read, Gov. Nathan Deal and other officials have announced that they would look into what legal action can be taken against those involved in the scandal. Fine. But, still, how do we fix this — to lessen its likelihood from happening again?”
simple, CT, simple.
hire good people, even if they aren’t interested in promoting a racially driven agenda.
hire people who are willing an able to call parents and communities on
the carpet for wholesale disinterest in their children’s education
hire people who will back those people.
start the long hard process of confonting and changing the current inner city culture which places more value on style than substance.
ANGELA
July 23rd, 2011
11:18 pm
Hello Late Night Bloggers,
My daughter just came and ask me how much longer are we going to have to hear about this APS cheating scandal? I responded “why don’t they just retest all of those students who’s scores were changed and move forward.” She said “that would truly be a scandal.”
Can anyone answer why that has not been suggested or even a demand?
bootney farnsworth
July 23rd, 2011
11:30 pm
I work at Perimeter College
I see every day kids – mostly black ones – coming to us from crappy educational backgrounds. they’re bright, smart, and hungry as anything to learn.
a lot of them need help – some need a lot of help – due to the educational disservice done by far too many of our public schools.
the odds are frankly not in their favor.
but when they come to us, often for the first time in their lives they are in an environment where education is supported, encouraged – even cool. that much is expected of them, and in turn we expect they have the ability to deliver.
knowing a decent number of these kids are APS products, it makes me want to bang heads against walls. the brainpower is obviously there.
as is the desire.
I can’t help but wonder what these kids could be achiving if APS (and others) had done a better job at their end.
bootney farnsworth
July 23rd, 2011
11:32 pm
@ Angela,
hopefully this debacle will be front page for a long time.
if it is, that could mean someone actuallty gives a damn.
Reginald
July 23rd, 2011
11:36 pm
Ignorance, racism, and stupidity are running rampant in some of the negative comments. Good things have and will continue to come out of APS. I am a product of APS and am currently an educator in another system here in the metro area. I was prepared and ready for college and post graduate school. And yes, I am a black male that was raised in the Bankhead Hwy area during the Atlanta Child murder days. I am successful and more so, thankful for the education and the street knowledge that came along with my education from Carter G. Woodson Elementary and West Fulton High Schhol.
In EVERYTHING, there is some good, and in EVERYTHING there is some bad. Let’s not fool ourselves and think that everyone that comes out of Cherokee, North Fulton, Gwinnett or Forsyth County is good!!!!
I have several neices and nephews in APS, once in particular is a rising senior at Mays High School who has already scored over 1900 on the SAT and have scholarship offers waiting on her!!! Now if this corrupt SAC team don’t yank accreditation from APS, and jeopardize the validity of her diploma (by the way, she passed all parts of the GHGT, first try), she will be another success story out of APS! And she can stand against any student of any race, culture, nationality and competitively compete against them, academically and socially. And to add, she don’t do drugs (meth, northsiders!!) and she is not and has pledge not to get pregnant (Palin fans).
When are we going to rise above all this and just help all of God’s precious Gifts, the children!!!!
ANGELA
July 23rd, 2011
11:47 pm
@bootney farnsworth
Are these students coming from crappy educational backgrounds or did they play while the teacher was teaching? From public school experience among Black students even though they graduated they did not take education serious. Therefore, when they get to you you all blame the teachers and not the students. I deal with that same type of behavior in second grade. The value of education does not let me repeat does not begin in the classroom. Please stop putting the blame on the teachers and put 90% of the blame where it belongs. I am sure that you see students taking your class as joke as well or wanting someone to give them something. Please ask your students why are they really and truly so far behind? You will have another perspective.
ANGELA
July 23rd, 2011
11:52 pm
@Reginald
Why oh Why do we continue to make this a RACE issue. Please note that all of those administrators and teachers are all BLACK not WHITE. We did this to our own children.
When are we as a RACE going stop blamming others for our wrongs. We know right from worng and we still do. We do more harm to our own than any WHITE man has ever done. Get over the BULL.
APS Parent #2
July 24th, 2011
12:07 am
Read comment by APS High School Mom at 11:36 am.
The criminal justice system weights the punishment for children under 13 differently than those over 13. In fact, Atlanta’s curfew for children under 16 out on the streets late at night puts the burden for that on the parents. So, I’d say that the parents and the teachers for the failure of educating children from grades K through 8th rests squarely on their shoulders.
If the parents and teachers have done their respective jobs of parenting and educating, then anything after middle school should be shared by the student and his or her teacher. Unfortunately, given the High School Mom’s post, I do believe that the long-term and systemic cheating has negatively impacted a generation of APS students. Until that situation is remedied and the needs of those students addressed, then the system that perpetuated that failure to begin with must be accountable for taking the primary burden for the remedy.
Things are what they are in APS and we all need to fix the problem and not continue to sweep it under the rug. This is a lesson that we all need to learn and to share with our children. It is okay to be uncomfortable with the conversation, but is not okay to ignore something that needs to be discussed.
APS Parent #2
July 24th, 2011
12:10 am
I’ll add that education is always a topic worthy of great discussion in a civilized society.
Money vs. Destitute & Government
July 24th, 2011
12:17 am
Perdue and Deal are two of most “Corrupt & Racist” Governors that ever walked in Georgia! Are you kidding me! Of course the “Privileged” always see things through rose colored pink glasses, they’ll see no wrong! Believe me five years will show their motive. SCANDALOUS!
APS Parent #2
July 24th, 2011
12:25 am
I do not wear rose colored glasses any more. They are crushed and lying on the ground. Dr. Hall and her hench mob crushed them.
You may not like it @Money, but without the state of Georgia forcing the state investigation on APS, the APS cheating scandal would never have been exposed. Cheaters would still be erasing answers on tests and parents who trust that those whose jobs is it to educate kids would be educating kids.
Maybe you should take another look at your glasses and wipe them clean. I think your vision is the one that is obstructed. You should give credit where it is due and for APS it is with the Governors who had the courage to take on the big business interests in Atlanta who were deteremined to sweep everything under the Blue Ribbon Commission rug.
Paddy O
July 24th, 2011
12:26 am
yeah, in Pollyanna Utopianville. TILT. Try again.
APS Parent #2
July 24th, 2011
12:27 am
I would correct my earlier post to say that those whose jobs it was to educate kids would NOT be educating kids without the state of Georgia’s investigation into APS. Clearly, APS was not capable of self-governance.
Paddy O
July 24th, 2011
12:28 am
Angela – you are one of the few voices of reason. Keep striving.
Truth
July 24th, 2011
12:29 am
Question! What good did Deal and Sonny do for Hall and Houston Co.s educational situation! Nothing! The whole cheating scandal and accreditation crap is about money and power. Please see beyond your pointed noses! Luckily your 6000 year rein is about up.
Paddy O
July 24th, 2011
12:30 am
Angela – it appears this cheating has been going on since Hall arrived from another cesspool of a place, Newark. I don’t think you can retest kids from a decade ago. Even the 2009 kids, they should not be punished for the immorality of their teachers – if they failed, would they then repeat the grade again?
FYI
July 24th, 2011
12:33 am
Benjamin Elijah Mays High School has the MOST graduate from West Point, more than any other high school in the nation. Now that a fact jack. We will talk about the Rhodes & Fulbright later.
Hmmmm
July 24th, 2011
12:52 am
In a perfect world, there would be no cheating. I would bet every single penny I have that cheating occurs in ALL levels of education.
From APS to Harvard, its reality. A few years ago there was a big cheating scandal in pharmacy registration and it had roots at UGA.
Fortunately, I had a mother back in the 60’s and 70’s who stressed being honest and just working your butt off to get what you want.
My point is, please don’t believe this is only happening at APS. They were just too sloopy and too greedy.
APS Parent #2
July 24th, 2011
12:52 am
@FYI. Be careful of the Grady High School pr machine. I’m sure they’ll find a way to best Mays High School when they read your post. According to them, Grady High School is the best in APS.
Given their accolades, everyone in APS should find a way to rent an apartment or live with a relative in Grady’s district. After all, if you live in-zone they have to take you. From some of their own parents’ admissions, they are happy Grady didn’t make AYP because they didn’t want to take children from truly low income neighborhoods anyway.
Reginald
July 24th, 2011
1:29 am
@ Angela
Go back and re-read my post. I am not and would not make this a race issue. I said some of the comments that others made were ignorant and racist! Read some of the other posts before my and target those people. I pointed out my successes as a result of being schooled in APS and the success of one of my neices! You read again and open your mind!!!!
And yes, Mays students are a success story because Dr. Mays set the standard himself before he passed in 1984. Mays HS opened around 1980-81. Dr. Mays served as president of Morehouse for many years and signed the degrees of thousands of bright young men. He served with honor as president of the APS board. One of his sticking points for allowing APS to have his name on a school was they would always provide a higher than quality education for all the students who entered the doors of that great institution.
Long Time Coming...
July 24th, 2011
5:20 am
Does Sharron Pitts have any plans to leave? She should do the same thing that Augustine needs to do in Texas…..bow out gracefully! Take Butler-Burkes with you and let Susan Dyer ride shotgun!!!
Miss the Magnet
July 24th, 2011
6:57 am
Grady parent and proud but I am an APS parent and I am equally proud of the Mays grads success at West Point. Having moved into the district, I have never understood the animosity toward other schools that I hear at school meetings and I have read here in the AJC. Having lived in other parts of the country and not being privy to the long history of APS/Atlanta, it seems it is more a carryover from the past. It seems, imho, that APS is a school system and anything that brings pride and admiration for any school in the district is a something to shout out for. I am proud that APS as a system has so many entries and grads into such elite schools, the Miltary Academies in particular. I am guilty of ignorance about Mays grad accomplishments, as of other schools as well. I am proud to know this district has made those opportunities happen DESPITE all of this mess. Maybe with this scandal, the district as a whole can come together and shine light on the true accomplishments of all its students and not with the expectations that singing the praises of the students you know precludes being happy and proud of other district students as well. Maybe it is time to drop the expected divisiveness and be proud of all that this district can and does accomplish honestly instead of the hyped up press machine that the district spewed out.
Miss the Magnet
July 24th, 2011
7:08 am
APS Parent #2 Grady not making AYP has more to do with the extreme overcrowding that is currently THE issue at the school. Would you be happy to have your ninth grader start highs school with OVER 40 kids in a class. The trailers that have taken over the athletic field are a very public symbol of that overcrowding. They are there not because of a renovation project but because of overcrowding. You put words into the mouths of Grady parents not wanting low income students at their school. Grady is Title One and is likely to be more economic diverse than at any other school in the district. Grady Parents/stakeholders, with a few exceptions, embrace the diversity and some are quite vocal that losing the magnet might make it less diverse not more. There are other districts around the country where parents think that economic diversity as well as racial diversity are something good for a school.
Sharon Pitts must Go
July 24th, 2011
7:34 am
Hall Leftover List
1.Sharon Pitts
2.Susan Dyer
3.Lester McKee
4.Chuck Burbridge
5.Larry Hoskins
6.Keith Brommery
GrannyCares
July 24th, 2011
7:49 am
While there may be some kids who cannot or will not learn, think there is a larger problem of ill prepared ‘teachers’ who may have been taught “HOW TO TEACH”, but never mastered the subject matter they are teaching! Additionally, we are seeing an increased number of individuals who cannot make it through other academic disciplines end up in schools of education — NOT GOOD!
The sort of cheating that was prevalent in APS also suggests that there was one huge number of SHEER LAZY TEACHERS AND ESPECIALLY ADMINISTRATORS, who possess MAJOR CHARACTER FLAWS!
Next thing we will hear is a need for an Atlanta ‘RUBBER ROOM’ to retain and pay teachers to stay away from the classroom — a la NYC!! This is why sending a child to a public school today is tantamount to child abuse, and why CHOICE is a necessity!
Think that this should be a warning to parents: start embracing CHOICE — Charter schools; homeschooling; even private schools. Sadly, would not be one bit surprised to see this same sort of thing happening in other school systems in Georgia. Presently, there is LITTLE COMPETITION! As evidenced by APS, when there is no competition, teachers and administrators become lax, and BOEs just nod with approval when they hear what they want to hear.
Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil
July 24th, 2011
8:00 am
CT Martin and others STOOD by and watched Dr. Hall and others destroy the school system. Now they all want to speak out.
ITS TOO LATE YOU FAILED OUR CHILDREN!!! I hope you all can sleep at night.
SHAME ON YOU SHAME ON YOU SHAME ON YOU SHAME ON YOU SHAME ON YOU
Publius
July 24th, 2011
8:04 am
I believe that the entire school board should be removed, as they were not not savy enough to read through the “astoninshing” results of the improbable score results.
The Atlanta Public school system should get out of the education business and start over. With the amounts of monies being spent and taxed , there is no excuse for the results.
It would be cheaper to send all the kids to boarding school, and give them tickets to see their families for the holidays. The kids would get the attention that they need without the distractions of our flawed testing system, rotten home enviroments, and the “hood”.
Or, contract with better performing public school systems for administrative services and hiring to duplicate their results.
Suavez
July 24th, 2011
8:34 am
Reginald-
It scares me that you graduated from high school and profess to be a teacher when you can’t construct a basic sentence. I had to pull my kids out of APS because most of the teachers spell worse than I do, and that is pretty scary. Also, my kids were constantly taught about Frederick Douglas etc, and couldn’t tell you who George Washington was. The teachers favored the african-american girls and ignored everyone else. Incompetence reigns supreme at APS.
chillywilly
July 24th, 2011
8:47 am
@Sharon Pitts Must Go – I agree with you. It makes absolutely no sense for Mr. Davis to keep Sharon Pitts, Keith Bromery, Chuck Burbridge and the others that you mentioned on the payroll. Are all of these people from the north? I know that Bromery & Burbridge are from Chicago and I believe Pitts is from some slum city up north. Maybe that explains it. Mr. Davis is from Pittsburgh so we may be witnessing a “male Beverly Hall” in the making.
Mr. Davis, we expect CHANGE! That means, get rid of all of the filth that Beverly Hall left behind.
Just Do It
July 24th, 2011
8:49 am
People on the outside have all the answers for those on the inside. I applaud you for your wonderful comments and handle on written expression but now can you just roll up your sleeves a couple of inches, walk into one of these schools/churches/homes and offer your assistance.
To those who already do…Thank you
@Publius I agree the school board should be recalled. The flawed testing system goes beyond APS. But please don’t be so presumptuous to assume removing a child from his home in the “hood” will help the child. Socioeconomically disadvantaged does not equate to a rotten, non-loving home. Children living in homes with everything they could every desire at their disposal can/do have rotten home environments if the parents are never around to care or notice what they are doing. However I’m sure you are more than aware of this and just needed someone to talk to….good morning
principal affair
July 24th, 2011
8:54 am
aps diploma—permanently stained due to the cheating by all these administrators and principals.
GrannyCares
July 24th, 2011
8:58 am
We have got to get it is gear folks, or jobs are not going to be coming to Atlanta in the future!
In 1983, A Nation At Risk urgently recommended reforms in education warning “the United States is under challenge from many quarters”. Today we’re at greater risk than ever. The Government Education Monopoly continues to imperil our economy by failing miserably at preparing the workforce. Business increasingly looks for talent overseas. The world’s greatest concentration of PhD’s is in Seoul, Korea and half of Americans can’t even find Seoul on a map.
Downward sloping performance confirms John Taylor Gatto’s thesis in his book Dumbing Us Down and his speeches which charge compulsory government education with deliberately producing robots instead of adults who are the best they can be.
Just look at our stats for 2011! This is truly pathetic. LEARNING IS HARD WORK! TEACHING IS HARD WORK! PARENTING IS HARD WORK. ATLANTA – LET’S GO TO WORK! This goes for all counties in the state – with the exception of Fayette – on the southside of Atlanta!
GrannyCares
July 24th, 2011
9:04 am
WELL, GLORY BE!! Where was Mr. Martin’s voice the past decade????
There is enough blame to go around: certainly APS administrators and the cheating teachers; the Board of Education (all of them) for sitting on their hands; and some parents who were probably not intellectually honest when their child jumped from ’struggling to genius’ in one year. That said, Atlanta and our Country are going to have to ‘get it in gear’ or we will have other countries — some, not so friendly, surpassing us in multiple fields!
Our public school systems must develop literate and globally competitive graduates. Instead of improving in math, science, reading, and now — history, our kids continue to fall behind. Today, they are FLUNKING — and have been for years!! Businesses are paying a hefty price in taxes to do business in the US at present. Our corporate tax rate is second highest in the world. Businesses can ill afford to assume the responsibility of teaching their workers what they failed to acquire while they were in the public school system. It is much cheaper for them to go to China or Korea where the work force is better prepared. IT IS NOT ALL OF THE TEACHER’S FAULT! Over recent decades, too many parents have pressured teachers into grade inflation. If parents are not applying discipline at home; setting high academic standards for their kids; and applying some “sticks” when needed, parents will find the child spending a lot more time with their parents when they reach their 20’s.
Parents and teachers should be asking, “Why is it taking upwards of SIX years for some of our kids to get a four year degree — and usually in a soft discipline?” Look at the student loan debt we are allowing to be placed on our kid’s shoulders!! It now exceeds credit card debt, and way too many of them do not have a discipline that will allow them to unload that debt in TEN YEARS!! Businesses are not going to underwrite hard skill training when kids do not have the basics. Ask your local colleges what percent are having to take remedial courses in math, science, English — if they can read!! We kid ourselves about enhancing our kid’s ‘cognitive skills’ when they are not accustomed to comprehending what is in a text book! If I were a state school superintendent, I would be asking: WHAT HAS AEA or NEA DONE TO IMPROVE EDUCATION IN THE US??
A Conservative Voice
July 24th, 2011
9:33 am
@Article, Sunday Morning – Six of the Atlanta school board’s current eight members are black. Fort and other critics have argued that removing board members for other than moral or criminal infractions and naming nonminority replacements, if that happens, would cause the city’s black residents to lose influence and representation.
In wake of all that has happened with blacks in charge, the above has to be the dumbest statement I have heard in awhile. In my opinion, the city’s black residents “should lose this influence and representation”.
And for making such a dumb statement, he (Fort) should be voted out at the earliest. You know, you can stick your head in the sand and pretend that someone/something else is to blame, but when it’s out there in the open for all to see, you have to make changes…….hopefully, the tribunal will see that and vote accordingly.
Disclaimer: The above may, or may not represent the views of everyone. If not, who cares?????After all, it’s only 50,000 children and the entire Metro Atlanta Area that’s in jeopardy
I mean, what’s the big deal?????
ashley
July 24th, 2011
9:57 am
Graduate from the APS with a degree? A degree in what? No one gets a degree from High School its called a diploma.
jerry peters
July 24th, 2011
9:57 am
I would seriously question any and all data, especially “gains” in student achievement over the last 12 years. The ruthless “mob” style pressures placed upon APS staff yielded a profile of accomplishment and honors for the superintendent and her top assistants. Cheating, lying and stealing are inseparble traits for those in pursuit of aggradizement at any cost, especially when off the backs of poor children.
All of those found to be complicit in this disgraceful conspiracy must be prosecuted to the fullest extent. However, I have reservations regarding criminal charges being brought. Why? The decision regarding prosecution will be made by three district attorneys (one white & two black). The impressionalbe youth of our community will learn a lesson from observing the outcome of this sordid mess. Will there be justice or will the dynamics of power, politics and race prevail?
Fact: APS students have been expelled and scholarships denied because of their involvement in cheating and other acts of dishonesty.
ANGELA
July 24th, 2011
12:20 pm
@Suavez
Please, this is not a d….. college paper we are writing. This is a BLOG. I am so sick and tired of these so perfect writers commenting on who made a D… typo or otherwise. This is not BLOG for pay or write for pay. The only person that gets paid on here is MAUREEN! When you get paid to BLOG then feel free to comment on how others write. But, you will need to make sure that you are first a perfect writer yourself.
@Reginald,
I can agree that there are a lot of racist comments that are made on here. However, we are in a world of free speech. I would much rather them make the comments than not to make them because at least I know where they stand. The ones who hide behind their thoughts are who I would tend to be afarid of. And again, remember we are in a world of free speech but we don’t have to sound ignorant to voice how we feel or think.
@Paddy O,
I am not sure if we can retest but I do know if we do yes, they will be retained if they don’t pass. But, that is also, a joke because all a parent has to do is appeal the process and the child can move on to the next grade.
Again, the cheating is not about how our students look academically it is all about the ROOT OF ALL EVIL – MONEY!
APS3
July 24th, 2011
12:51 pm
I applaud Mr. Martin, I concur with him. I am an APS graduate, child of two APS graduates and parent of a recent APS graduate- Grady High c/o 2011. My child and a number of her peers did exceptionally well in the required exams.
I applaud Grady High for having more Posse Scholars this year than other school in the system having a nationally ranked speech and debate team which produced this year’s National Forensics Student of the Year and nationally ranked mock trial team; Washington High for having more Gates Scholars; Mays High for West Point recruits; Crawford Long Middle School for producing at least 4 high school vals and sals when this school was on the most dangerous in the country list when the said students entered middle school; and all the other accomplishments of the hard working students and teachers at APS.
My point is this- I don’t think misdoings should be swept under the rug, but don’t throw out the baby with the bath water. Now is the time to get past politics and get to the business of producing strong intelligent young people. Let us get past apocAlyPSe and embrace Atlanta’s motto- Resurgens- rising again.
catlady
July 24th, 2011
12:53 pm
And on today’s article about Deal possibly removing school board members of APS, while I am concerned about anyone over-ruling the vote of the people, it does happen at times (when a jury’s verdict is set aside is one instance), and in this case is well-justified, until a better board can be elected. The board suffers from too many with their own families/agendas, too many with too little education, too many who don’t look at the big picture, too many willing to believe whatever they are told, too many who like to be on the news. He needs to appoint some solid, well-educated citizens, with NO family members employed by APS, no ties to book publishers, who don’t need to be on the board to feel important.
Just Do It
July 24th, 2011
2:58 pm
@APS3 & catlady
Well said
Hey Erroll, How does Sharon Pitts remain YOUR Chief of Staff?
July 24th, 2011
3:09 pm
Erroll Davis*********We are waiting**********University of Chicago**********Carnegie Melon (no, not Water Melon U.)**********Yankee Takeover of Atlanta Schools***********Erroll Davis, Carpbetbagger Replaces Beverly Hall, Carpetbagger**********Burbridge of Chicago**********Sharon Pitts of Detroit**********When Will Southerners Get its City Back?************Dr. Norman Thomas for Superintendent!**************
Sharon Pitts must Go
July 24th, 2011
4:35 pm
sharon pitts is from detorit??? LOL
Suavez
July 24th, 2011
4:40 pm
Angela-
If you are too stupid to conjugate a verb you have no business teaching. I’m referring to you and Reginald.
Sharon Pitts must Go
July 24th, 2011
4:42 pm
i just heard that Sharon Pitts is now the General Council!!!!!!!!!so she is taking over for Velevtta Myselck and able to negotiate settlements for the contracts that Hall gave to her Area Supt thugs days before she left?????? BOE grow some Balls
Miss the Magnet
July 24th, 2011
5:03 pm
APS3 – well said. Real accomplishments despite the mayhem should be applauded district wide. Going forward with transparency should be expected and divisiveness should be replaced with bridge building. I have to hope that some of this district divisiveness stemmed from the top admins down. When you pit one school against another, the district is bound to suffer. Good things have been and are happening in APS. Children will graduate from this district, Atlanta as a city will be judged bu this district so honest accomplishments from all corners of the district should be extolled and shared. Bruised and dented maybe but the APS district is far from broken
Ex-English Prof.
July 24th, 2011
5:04 pm
@Suavez, 4:40 pm. I’ve read and reread Angela’s entry here–and also Reginald’s–and don’t see any incorrectly conjugated verbs. ??
Oh–it’s Frederick “Douglass,” not “Douglas.”