Thoughts on the Atlanta cheating scandal.
Cheating on high-stakes tests was apparently rampant at dozens Atlanta public schools in the past few years at the same time as the superintendent was lauded for success in turning around test scores.
My response: Is anyone really surprised by this? Given the sanctions places on teachers and administrators when schools, of course they acted to save themselves. As long as educational policy is defined by punishments for those teachers and administrators willing to teach in the most at-risk and highest need schools, there’s always a chance that the fervor and idealism about making a difference will morph into a life-or-death scramble to meet arbitrary testing goals that have no bearing on the educational reality of the school.
What is the advantage of good teachers trying to work in schools that are filled with struggling students? It doesn’t matter if you’re teaching in a rich suburban school or a crumbling, inner-city school. Both require the same percentage of students to pass to meet federal requirements and keep funding. The punishment for failing at that inner-city school? Less money and fewer resources going forward to attempt to turn around student education.
Do I condone the cheating? If course not. It is a terrible, shameful action. Do I understand why some teachers and administrators might have turned to it as a last resort? Yes. When it comes to pass or lose your job, I can see why some people will do everything they can, ethical or not, legal or not, to keep that job.
Comments (View)
