Cheating scandal a serious crisis for Atlanta schools
By most accounts, Atlanta schools Superintendent Beverly Hall runs a very tight ship. She demands results and she produces results.
However, results of a different type now threaten to undermine much of what Hall has accomplished. Strong evidence of widespread, perhaps systematic cheating on state-mandated tests within Atlanta public schools now calls into question not just the effectiveness of the Atlanta system but its basic integrity.
How Hall responds to that evidence will determine both her legacy and her continued ability to lead the district.
Sparked by an earlier AJC investigation that found evidence of cheating on state tests, Gov. Sonny Perdue ordered a probe of all state-mandated tests taken last year by Georgia students in grades 1-8. Every single test was inspected for evidence that wrong answers had been erased and changed to correct answers.
Of course, students often change answers in the course of taking a test. The state’s analysis found that on average, a student might change one or two answers on each test from wrong to right.
However, according to an erasure analysis conducted by CTB-McGraw Hill, the vendor that provides Georgia’s statewide tests, results at several hundred Georgia schools showed evidence of erasures well beyond what you would ordinarily expect. The company estimated the odds of such excessive erasures occurring naturally at one in a thousand.
The analysis also found that at 74 schools statewide, including 43 in Atlanta alone, more than a quarter of the classrooms tested showed evidence of erasures well beyond the ordinary.
At Parks Middle School in Atlanta, for example, almost 90 percent of classrooms tested showed evidence of an abnormal number of answers being changed from wrong to right.
State officials have stressed that the statistical evidence does not constitute proof of cheating in any particular classroom, a point that Hall repeated in a telephone interview Thursday. Smaller class sizes in Atlanta public schools also increase the odds that test results of a particular classroom might have been skewed.
Those are important caveats. Unfortunately, at best they can only mitigate the overall findings. They cannot explain the sheer scale of anomalies found at Atlanta public schools. They cannot explain, to cite just one example, how an average of 27 of 70 answers in one fourth-grade math class were changed from wrong to right.
The evidence that something has gone seriously wrong seems inescapable.
And as a strong supporter of public education, and as a father of two children who thrived in the Atlanta public schools, I do not come to that conclusion lightly.
In the interview Thursday, Hall reiterated her belief that poor, urban students are not fated to fail.
The considerable progress shown in Atlanta public schools over a decade of her leadership is often cited as proof of that fact, and she expressed sincere concern that the accomplishments of Atlanta students might now be tainted.
On the other hand, “cheating is never acceptable,” Hall said, pledging “an independent review of every classroom, every teacher and every principal” where problems might exist
.
Nationwide, the growing emphasis on standardized testing as a means of holding teachers and principals accountable is controversial. Hall has embraced that approach with a passion, using an intensely data-driven approach to demand measurable improvement from principals and teachers alike.
But as a consequence of that high-pressure environment, it now seems almost certain that some employees turned to cheating to produce results they could not achieve by legitimate means.
Until now, the Atlanta Board of Education has given Hall the freedom and support that any good superintendent needs to restructure a stubborn bureaucracy. But to protect both Hall and the district, the board now needs to take a strong leadership role in ensuring an independent, aggressive investigation of these allegations.
This is not merely a case of cheating the system, of misleading bureaucrats. The biggest victims are the students themselves. Their parents were reassured that their children were performing adequately and did not need additional help.
In too many cases, it appears, that simply wasn’t true.
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380 comments Add your comment
Mick
February 12th, 2010
10:14 am
Everybody knows everything about education because we all went through it. In my time, they taught us to think, today they teach you to test. Blame anyone you want but it always should be squarely the responsibility of the STUDENT. Add in good parenting and now you have the formula for success. There is deadwood in every profession, majority of teachers work their buts off. The entertainment and technology culture presents great challenges to keep students focused. Cheating by the adults in education is the ultimate failure of people who cannot be called professional and go’s against everything education is about. So much for the data driven movement – a failure on both sides.
JDW
February 12th, 2010
10:14 am
USinUK, LMAO thanks for correcting my typo!
Bud Wiser
February 12th, 2010
10:14 am
From yesterday – “Anybody who suggests that a temporary weather phenomenon in a localized area in any way refutes global warming thereby announces to the world that he or she is a scientific illiterate with no understanding or credibility on the topic.
Inference – if you do not agree with the self inflated ego of the author, the Book(man) of all Knowing, the basis from which all scientific knowledge, easoning, and supposition flows for now and forever, then you are irrelevant.
Interesting that such an ego swells from someone who has spent most of their professional life talking about what other people are doing, as opposed to doing something themselves.
Next column please.
USinUK
February 12th, 2010
10:15 am
Brad – 10:11 – oh, so low-cost immigration is a GOOD thing. thanks for clearing that up. I’ll make sure everyone knows you’re first in line to endorse worker programs and amnesty.
the fact is – not everyone is designed for school / higher education. not everyone is HAPPY in school / higher education. why shouldn’t we encourage kids to find education in the things that interest them – whether it’s software design for gaming or electrical design for a home or business?
opening up MORE opportunities for kids is ALWAYS better than channeling kids into fewer …
mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack the Liar Obama
February 12th, 2010
10:15 am
Isn’t the answer to throw more taxpayer money at the problem?
md
February 12th, 2010
10:16 am
And what is the general difference between public and private schools?
The drug menu.
JDW
February 12th, 2010
10:16 am
USinUK, I think I pi$$ed Whiner off earlier when I pointed out that 30 years of Republican rule have brought us to this point. Haven’t heard from him since.
JDW
February 12th, 2010
10:17 am
oops my bad he’s BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK
ken
February 12th, 2010
10:18 am
Enter your comments here
ken
February 12th, 2010
10:19 am
USunUK I not in Ga.
Granny Godzilla
February 12th, 2010
10:20 am
There are private schools and then there are private schools….
My 8th grade summer reading list included Vonnegut, Salinger, Royko, Machiavelli and du Maurier.
The kids in our local private “academy” have never heard of a summer reading list.
It ain’t whether it’s public or private, it the student, the parent
and the teacher.
USinUK
February 12th, 2010
10:21 am
ken – 10:19 – well, cheating on GA standardized exams is the subject.
TaxPayer
February 12th, 2010
10:22 am
And what is the general difference between public and private schools?
The drug menu.
What are you implying.
Williebkind
February 12th, 2010
10:23 am
Throwing money at education? If you can get a list of those who receives the PELL and those who actually attend college after payment, I am sure you will be shocked. Hey, you climategate staticians give us and answer about how much PELL is provided to students who do not attend class.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
February 12th, 2010
10:24 am
JDW- Allowing you liberals to prove you care more about your stooge political agenda than you do about the future of your children speaks volumes, why would I interrupt?
While I’m here, let me take this a step further, would the socialists that run Atlanta’s public schools fake your “test scores” if they ever got a hold of our health care system? Is it not easier to write down on your chart that all is well instead of, you know, like actually putting forth the effort required by the cure?
Just sayin….
Williebkind
February 12th, 2010
10:25 am
OMG, that should be “an” not and! I will be admonished soon! I just know it.
USinUK
February 12th, 2010
10:29 am
“While I’m here, let me take this a step further, would the socialists that run Atlanta’s public schools fake your “test scores” if they ever got a hold of our health care system?”
huzzah! that’s the best stretch, yet, whiner …
now … about those links to Obama’s speeches … ??? donde esta???
Williebkind
February 12th, 2010
10:31 am
Granny Godzilla
February 12th, 2010
10:20 am
“It ain’t whether it’s public or private, it the student, the parent
and the teacher.”
You left out government!
Mick
February 12th, 2010
10:32 am
Two things about testing, reliability and validity. Just like people here use charts and polls to bolster their arguments, it is just as easy to manipulate testing scores without any cheating. You can either dumb it down to make scores rise or juice it up to lower them. The only test that really is reliable and valid would be the SAT or ACT. State tests are not reliable because they change year to year and are often not valid consistent with grade level.
md
February 12th, 2010
10:34 am
“What are you implying.”
Actually referring to high end designer drugs, but I see where you are coming from.
catlady
February 12th, 2010
10:35 am
Want to cut out the cheating? Tie negative school performance to additional money–the poorer your students do, the more money you get. To some extent, Title 1 does that, but I believe Title 1 relies more on financial poverty, rather than educational poverty (not always the same thing, but frequently associated).
Bosch
February 12th, 2010
10:36 am
Mick,
And in the case of GA for the past couple years (I think it’s been corrected now), at least in some lower grades, the tests and the curriculum didn’t match up. What the kids were tested on was not what they were taught at their particular grade level.
Mick
February 12th, 2010
10:36 am
I report
I agree with your taste in music but man you just keep going off the rails with this socialism complex. Public & private schools produced scientists that got us to the moon and back – its all good.
USinUK
February 12th, 2010
10:36 am
md –
“Actually referring to high end designer drugs”
are there any, anymore??? criminey, going by what you hear in the news, it sounds like ALL drugs are around $10-$20 …
Granny Godzilla
February 12th, 2010
10:37 am
willie
yep. sure did.
TaxPayer
February 12th, 2010
10:39 am
Is it not easier to write down on your chart that all is well instead of, you know, like actually putting forth the effort required by the cure?
The results are back from your doctor and he says you are in perfect health and not to worry.
Bosch
February 12th, 2010
10:39 am
Hi ya USinUK –
You may be gone later for music time, so I thought I’d post this for ya:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diXUz0DrGG0
LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!
I decided yesterday after you’d gone, that I’m going to try and become and Olympic Curler – at my age, I think that’s my only option to get an Olympic Gold Medal. I’m working out my endorsements gigs now.
Mick
February 12th, 2010
10:39 am
Bosch
There is a lot of money being thrown at these companies that do testing – its big business. SAT & ACT have been around for a long time and they are pretty much fair and balanced.
RealityKing
February 12th, 2010
10:39 am
Poor, urban students ARE fated to fail! Because our school system is controlled by a bloated bureaucracy that has progressively promoted the demise of the traditional American family unit since the 1970s. The proofs in the statistics..
Jesse_Jacksonville
February 12th, 2010
10:39 am
If I’m a teacher, I’m going to cheat. The reasoning, state administrators have reduced teachers to testing robots. They (state administrators) only measure progress and disperse funds by analyzing test results. We’ve reduced little Johnny to nothing more than a test score number in this game of politics played out at the federal and state level.
No child left behind…keep em movin’
Outhouse GoKart
February 12th, 2010
10:39 am
“It ain’t whether it’s public or private”
There is a great difference between Public and Private schools…a huge factor. I attended private school from kindergarten thru 2nd grade. Just as an example in private school, 2nd grade, my spelling words were between 6 and 9 letters. Upon arriving at 3rd grade in the public sector I was treated to having spelling tests which consisted of words ranging from 3 to 6 letters…more often 4 letters…fish, bear, ball, etc.
Also in 2 grade we knew or multiplication tables and were doing multiplication and division. Public school were still “mastering” addition and subtraction. Needless to say my 3rd, 4th and 5th grades years were a breeze.
JDW
February 12th, 2010
10:39 am
Well Whiner, first off if you think I am a liberal you need remedial reading education. I am far from a liberal. What I am is tired of Republicans in Conservative clothing spouting inane nonesence while they line thier pockets.
The total deficit (in unadjusted dollars) incurred by President since Regan is
Reagan- $1,338 billion or $167.25 per year
Bush 1- $933 billion $233.25 per year
Clinton – $458 billion or $57.25 per year
Bush 2- $2875 billion of $359.375 per year
Even more telling is that over thier terms each president iimproved on the budget of the prior year this many times:
Reagan- twice
Bush 1- Never
Clinton – Eight times
Bush 2- twice
So tell me, how does this party get to wear the mantle of Conservatism. While running our economy and country into the ground?
USinUK
February 12th, 2010
10:41 am
dangitall Bosch … taunting me with youtube clips … when I’m ensconced behind a firewall! (curse you firewall!!!)
will check it out when I get home …
curling, huh??? it’d be a great idea if it didn’t involve ice and cold … maybe rolling a beer can down a driveway or something – hey! Redneck Curling!!!
Bosch
February 12th, 2010
10:42 am
Mick,
I happen to be married to one of the premiere math teachers in the known universe and beyond – I hear all this every day during adult beverage time.
USinUK
February 12th, 2010
10:43 am
Bosch – 10:42 – does she know about your hatred of numbers???
Bosch
February 12th, 2010
10:45 am
USinUK,
Ooops. Sorry, I knew that about your firewalls, but dang it all to pieces – I get so excited about the Olympics! It’s the Olympic theme song – complete with the drums and all. I get goosebumps everytime I hear that song.
Redneck Curling! I like it! It’s supposed to snow here later on, maybe me and the two younger Boschlings can try it this evening – we have a really steep driveway so I think it’ll be fun!
Say, do you think there’s a good market for Curling gigs in the UK?
Outhouse GoKart
February 12th, 2010
10:45 am
The BK Lounge has the delicious Whopper Sammy on sale today 2 for $3.00.
Bosch
February 12th, 2010
10:47 am
USinUK,
Oh yes, we are quite the couple. The OB is all about logic and math, and I’m the flaky artistic one. They say that opposites attract – I think that’s a math thing too!
We keep each other grounded.
Bosch
February 12th, 2010
10:49 am
USinUK,
My 10:45 – I meant to write “Curling endorsement gigs”
Mick
February 12th, 2010
10:50 am
I went to catholic schools with the nuns through sixth grade then transferred to public and I was years ahead except for science. In public high school I had some of the best teachers ever that encouraged me to reach my goals. Like I said, its all good – testing is now in the political realm exactly where it doesn’t belong.
USinUK
February 12th, 2010
10:51 am
Bosch – I’m all about the summer Olympics – there’s not a lot going on for me in the winter … but, I’m with you on Fanfare for the Common Man – gives me chills everytime.
Sounds like you and Mrs. Bosch are definitely a good match! The way I see it, I do numbers at work so I don’t have to do them at home … I take care of all the artsy stuff in our house while the mister does anything involving IT. (I’m the one going “honey – the computer’s doing something weird … make it work!!”)
Finn McCool
February 12th, 2010
10:52 am
A burger for $1.50? There’s one major source of obesity, right there.
USinUK
February 12th, 2010
10:53 am
Bosch – as for curling in the UK – I think there is a curling team … but, more to the point, there are definitely a LOT of people who drink, so if you’re looking for endorsements for your Redneck Curling Team, this would be the place
(however, I don’t think they’re familiar with PBR here)
Mick
February 12th, 2010
10:53 am
Outhouse – did you get your free denny’s slam this past tuesday? I couldn’t make it into the parking lot. Damn those super bowl ads..
mm
February 12th, 2010
10:59 am
Whiner,
“Bookman- This is a total failure of socialism, a direct result of you liberals dumbing down your captive audience so that you can brainwash them with your hideous left wing political propaganda.”
So, educating our kids is socialism? You wingnuts are truly scary.
You are like a broken record. Fill up on Fox and Limbaugh, then repeat early and often.
Conservatives good. Liberals evil.
Conservatives smart. Liberals stupid.
Conservatives right. Liberals wrong.
That about sums up the wingnuts posts on this blog on a daily basis.
It would be shocking to see a post from a conservative on this blog that isn’t a repeated talking point from their masters.
TnGelding
February 12th, 2010
11:01 am
Disgusting! Ban the cheaters for life. Better to fail than to cheat. We’ve taken the ability to take a test and given it too much importance. Hard work, organization and dedication count at least as much.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
February 12th, 2010
11:02 am
maybe rolling a beer can down a driveway or something – hey! Redneck Curling!!!
Well, ain’t you the smart one.
md
February 12th, 2010
11:02 am
“wingnuts”
This is supposed to make people think one is to be seriously considered?
JDW
February 12th, 2010
11:03 am
USinUK they do have the Budwieser down though. I always amused me to see the Brits ordering it their local pub. I asked one why one day and he reminded me that there Bud was the import!
TELLTHETRUTH
February 12th, 2010
11:03 am
It’s no secret, that cheating is rampant around the State of Georgia school systems when it comes to State mandated testing. If the State looks closer at other school systems in metro Atlanta, they will find the same issues. Stop, looking just at Dekalb and the City of Atlanta, as if they are the only violators. Ask educators, and they will tell you that state mandated test are often altered after students have turned them in. AJC investigate a little deeper and you will be surprise of the cheating happening in the State’s largest two school systems, they haven’t be caught as of yet or could it be just ignored by the State of Georgia and the AJC.
USinUK
February 12th, 2010
11:04 am
sorry RC … didn’t mean to horn in on your territory.
JDW
February 12th, 2010
11:04 am
I will be curling like Bosch later on, except instead of the little curling things I will use a 4 year old on a sled! I hope I can get her to stop at the bottom of the hill!
JDW
February 12th, 2010
11:06 am
USinUK, almost time for you to head off to the motorway isn’t it?
Outhouse GoKart
February 12th, 2010
11:09 am
Mick
February 12th, 2010
10:53 am
Darn…missed that one.
Jess
February 12th, 2010
11:10 am
After reading these comments, it seems that many see “cheating teachers” as a victims of state mandated testing. No real ethics issue at all, just a technicality. This is comforting because I was beginning to think maybe it was a teacher problem.
Outhouse GoKart
February 12th, 2010
11:11 am
“A burger for $1.50? There’s one major source of obesity, right there.”
Ya!! I usually smoke about 10 cigarettes during the dual whopper feast. Kinda the double whammy. I guess we better get me some govt Hcare so when I keel over I can be saved!!!
PS…Dont forget the cheese!!
USinUK
February 12th, 2010
11:11 am
JDW – 4 is such a great age – loads of fun, and they still think you’re cool. (I loved my nephews and nieces at that age)
not time yet – I catch the 5:45 from London Bridge – and I still have a report I’m finishing
Sam
February 12th, 2010
11:11 am
jdw, you know that words are much more important than actions.
reverend haggis
February 12th, 2010
11:11 am
potato(e)
Bosch
February 12th, 2010
11:12 am
USinUK,
Not even ice dancing? What? I mean, that’s some crazy stuff there. And the ski jump? Can you imagine the first time someone does that? Talk about no room for error or else. What makes someone think: “Okay, I’m gonna put on these skis and go sailing off in the air and drop 20 stories and land on my feet and all is well – yes, that will be loads of fun!”
I love the Olympics – all of it – every sport (even figure skating)- most of what I like about it, is that for two weeks, all the Bosches watch it together – it’s a major family event.
TaxPayer
February 12th, 2010
11:12 am
Jay,
Perhaps you might have possibly maybe potentially slightly reduced some of the outlandish posts by providing a link to some more details. Then again… .
washedup
February 12th, 2010
11:13 am
Hey, Jay! Found another quarter! Nothing against public education, just wish we could have a legitimate choice, that’s all. I went to public schools, and just look how I turned out.
TaxPayer
February 12th, 2010
11:14 am
I guess we better get me some govt Hcare so when I keel over I can be saved!!!
Our local government actually charges smokers a higher insurance premium.
Outhouse GoKart
February 12th, 2010
11:14 am
Any idea when the new season of Whale Wars begins? Im so anticipating this years antics with Capt Stubbing and the gang. All of them flailing around the deck, being tossed to and fro, crying and blubbering like 4 year olds.
Truly a laugh fest.
Liza
February 12th, 2010
11:15 am
Let’s change the NO CHILD LEFT UNTESTED regimine…..to MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE WHOLE CHILD… When we put so much pressure and empasis on just passing the test we have a problem.
Let’s all work together ….teachers…parents…children..admin…so that we are not just teaching kids to take a test, but teaching them to be responsible, productive, critical thinkers who care about more than just taking a test to pass.
Just Sayin……
md
February 12th, 2010
11:16 am
“4 is such a great age – loads of fun, and they still think you’re cool.”
And smart.
Enjoy it while you can before you enter your stupid stage. There is a bell shaped curve of parental stupidity that coincides with the age of a child.
Outhouse GoKart
February 12th, 2010
11:16 am
“Let’s all work together ….teachers…parents…children..admin…so that we are not just teaching kids to take a test, but teaching them to be responsible, productive, critical thinkers who care about more than just taking a test to pass.”
“Work together”….LOL. Good luck with that!
USinUK
February 12th, 2010
11:17 am
Bosch 11:12 – awwww – that’s great! I love that you and the Boschlings watch the Olympics together – we did that when I was growing up, too …
one thing I miss – (and I’m sure I’m not alone) – I miss having the USSR as a rival. I mean, there will NEVER be another moment like the US hockey team beating the Russians because we just don’t have that kind of rivalry with anyone else …
as far as the ski jump – you know that started as a bet. (and who doesn’t look at that and think of ABC’s Wide World of Sports opener)
Bosch
February 12th, 2010
11:17 am
Jess,
Actually I think it’s an administrators problem. They are under enormous pressure for their school to pass, and if you’d read what I posted earlier, NCLB is set up so that every public school will eventually fail as each school is required to improve their test scores every year. So, no matter if your school has the best test scores in the state – say every kid gets every question right on every test – the next year – the same thing happens, that does not equal improvement – so therefore they fail.
USinUK
February 12th, 2010
11:19 am
md – “Enjoy it while you can before you enter your stupid stage” hahahahaha … that’s SO true!! very funny!!
OGK – “Any idea when the new season of Whale Wars begins?” it already started this week
JDW
February 12th, 2010
11:19 am
LOL MD, I know what you mean and I do dread the day a bit!
Bosch
February 12th, 2010
11:20 am
USinUK,
“there will NEVER be another moment like the US hockey team beating the Russians because we just don’t have that kind of rivalry with anyone else … ”
That. Is. The. Greatest. Moment. In. Sports. History. Ever. Recorded. Since. The. Beginning. Of. Time.
(Sniff Sniff just thinking about it).
RE: Ski Jump – yeah, I agree. Probably two drunk Germans. And I always had to turn my head on Sunday afternoons when that ABC Wide World of Sports came on. Ugly. I wonder who that guy was?
JDW
February 12th, 2010
11:20 am
Sam, not sure I get your words vs actions comment. Care to expand?
Outhouse GoKart
February 12th, 2010
11:20 am
UK…Holy Frijoles…WHAT! I gotta break out the TV guide.
JDW
February 12th, 2010
11:21 am
Bosch, I am with you on the US Hockey Team. I was in college then and boy was that a night!
Bosch
February 12th, 2010
11:21 am
md,
Don’t get all perturbed at the use of “wingnut.” We are the “moonbats” and when I use “wingnut” I do so with nothing but admiration and respect.
TaxPayer
February 12th, 2010
11:22 am
There is a bell shaped curve of parental stupidity that coincides with the age of a child
I think “camel humps” would be a better descriptor.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
February 12th, 2010
11:22 am
I agree with your taste in music but man you just keep going off the rails with this socialism complex. Public & private schools produced scientists that got us to the moon and back – its all good.
Mick- You don’t really believe all we have in Cobb County (or Decatur!!!!!!) are private schools, do you?
~~~~~
mm- You should sue the public school where you received your “education,” just sayin…
Bosch
February 12th, 2010
11:23 am
JDW,
Yeah, as the parent of three teenagers (13-19) you become the dumbest thing in the universe around age 10 and miraculously around age 17 you get smart again.
Jenifer
February 12th, 2010
11:23 am
TaxPayer, 11:22,
Oops, I did it again…Diet Coke all over screen.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
February 12th, 2010
11:24 am
Your honor, as my first witness, I’d like to call myself to the stand, hahahahhaha.
JDW
February 12th, 2010
11:25 am
You have a point on the Camel Humps Taxpayer. From what I can tell I am scheduled to get stupid in about 8 years but will get really smart again in about 15 or 16.
Bosch
February 12th, 2010
11:25 am
WHAT BLOG GOD?
JDW,
As the parent of three teenagers I can tell you that you become the dumbest thing in the universe when you child reaches 10, but then around age 17, you miraculously regain your brain cells and become smart again.
Paul
February 12th, 2010
11:25 am
Had a similar scandal in areas of Texas a couple years’ back. And again, a couple years after. Erasures on tests. Incredible gains by students from one year to the next. Couple things happened. In some cases, students had to retake tests. In others, when outside consultants specializing in statistical analyses of tests were brought in and problems were found to be greater than thought, officials wanted to not release the results and dismiss the consultants to ‘work it on our own.’
So those were worked through. Changes in administering tests were made – teachers could not give the tests to their own classes, just one person could not have custody of the tests at any time, that sort of stuff. But the effective change was firing of teachers. Not probation, not suspension, but firing.
Bosch
February 12th, 2010
11:25 am
BLOG GOD – YOU ARE SIMPLY UNREASONABLE.
Bosch
February 12th, 2010
11:26 am
JDW,
As the parent of three teenagers I can tell you that you become the dumbest thing in the universe when you child reaches 10
reverend haggis
February 12th, 2010
11:26 am
sarah p. is a syntax siren….
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
February 12th, 2010
11:27 am
Bosch- I think there is a nattering limit, just sayin….
You’re boring the server dude.
Bosch
February 12th, 2010
11:27 am
JDW,
But you do get smart again after your child gets all that demon posessed goo (teenagerism) out of their brain.
Bosch
February 12th, 2010
11:28 am
Andy,
Coming from you? Really?
TaxPayer
February 12th, 2010
11:29 am
You have a point on the Camel Humps Taxpayer. From what I can tell I am scheduled to get stupid in about 8 years but will get really smart again in about 15 or 16.
I’m on my second round of “smart” with the oldest child and on the downhill side of the first round of “smart” with the younger. Of course, with the younger one, she’s got supporting documentation with her SAT score. I can’t dispute facts.
neo-Carlinist
February 12th, 2010
11:29 am
no way I am wading through 280 posts to see if this novel question has been asked; does the CRCT exist to monitor the “education” (academic acheivement) of students, or the professional competency of teachers? any teacher caught changing answers on ANY test should be fired and sent to jail (and be forced to repay salary paid). to “fake” (promote students) is not only a disservice to the students, but it is a fraud perpetrated to secure a paycheck.
JDW
February 12th, 2010
11:29 am
Bosch, any of the 3 girls? I am hoping that that is going to make it a bit easier but you never know!
Sam
February 12th, 2010
11:30 am
i was in lake placid the night US hockey beat the Russians…it was amazing! the streets were going wild for hours…great time.
Bosch
February 12th, 2010
11:30 am
Hey Paul!
How’s the new grand son? Daughter? Or did you sneak off the ABBALAND again?
USinUK
February 12th, 2010
11:30 am
OGK – “WHAT! I gotta break out the TV guide”
you’re talking about a show? I thought you meant real life. sorry – in real life, one of the anti-whaling ships went mano-a-mano with the whalers this week.
Bosch – I’m with you on the hockey game being the best. moment. EVAH. I was in 8th grade at my friend Lori’s house – her whole neighborhood went crazy. truly a great moment. (and I love unscripted TV when the announcers go nutzo – whether it’s “Braves win! Braves win! Braves win!” or “do you believe in miracles?!” … just shows that, no matter how professional they are, they’re still just folks and get as excited about the game as we do)
md
February 12th, 2010
11:31 am
“(and who doesn’t look at that and think of ABC’s Wide World of Sports opener)”
Probably todays generation that has no clue what the Wide World of Sports was.
You are probably dating yourself with that one.
JDW
February 12th, 2010
11:31 am
Taxpayer, it is hell when they have the nums!
Hef
February 12th, 2010
11:31 am
In step with Valentine’s Day the WH is sending out gift baskets filled with chocolate kisses. They figure if this administration is going to s*rew the American public the least they can do is give us a kiss.
Mick
February 12th, 2010
11:32 am
I report
I don’t know about those counties. I just don’t see how you connect public school with socialism?