ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION

AND THE ATLANTA TEST-CHEATING SCANDAL

 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s coverage of the Atlanta Public School test cheating scandal would be unworthy for even the Globe or National Inquirer. Under its banner of “continuing coverage” the AJC has run a seemingly unending sensationalized drum beat of stories about the scandal. It has identified by names scores of administrators, principals and teachers said to have been complicit in manipulating students test scores and demanded that they be fired. Even though the widely acclaimed school superintendent, Dr. Beverly Hall, resigned early on, the AJC has continued running demeaning articles about her even suggesting that she should refund bonuses she received in past years. To be sure, manipulating test scores is inexcusable but given the dynamics of the misguided No Child Left Behind policy the behavior of those involved is quite understandable. Indeed that is why the Atlanta school system is simply one of many systems across the accused of doing the same.

 The No Child Left Behind regime calls for ranking school systems based on student progress as measured by student test scores. Ultimately the career fortunes of teachers, principals, and administrators are tied to student test scores. Higher the test scores the greater are chances for career advancement. However, when the policy was adopted, and continuing until today, the distribution of test scores among schools was predictable. Anyone who knew the basic demographic data of the system could predict with reasonable confidence which schools would show the higher and lower test scores. That is because aggregate student performance is a societal and systemic matter and not one determined by the individuals of particular schools. (Of course we all understand that there will be high achieving and low achieving individuals in every school but we are talking about aggregate performances). Give us pertinent socio-economic and demographic data and we can tell you where to expect to find high performing and low performing schools. Thus to ask teachers and principals working in low performance schools to submit their predictable low test scores with the understanding that their career advancement will be based on the reported scores is a rather dubious proposition, one that borders on self-incrimination. It is not unlike basing the career fortunes of police personnel on reported crime rates; or ranking universities based on crimes in and around campus. As is well known and readily understood,  people are loath to report information likely to cause them personal harm. 

 Thus it is time to move on. The problem surrounding the Atlanta school system and test scores has been sufficiently described and discussed. Those allegedly involved have been identified. Their names, and in many instances, their pictures have been plastered across the pages of the AJC. They have been embarrassed and humiliated. The AJC continuing coverage has become a combination of tabloid sensationalism and career opportunism. Perhaps the editor and the investigating team are hoping for a Pulitzer or some other accolades. They have made their case.  Kudos for them.

For us, it is time to say that enough is enough. Those with a genuine concern for the Atlanta Public Schools and the families they serve should stand up and tell the AJC that enough is enough. There is no redeeming social value in continuing the salacious coverage. It is time for the Mayor, other elected officials, the Concerned Clergy and others of good will to tell the AJC to tone down the sensationalism and begin a realistic campaign for improving our schools.

April 26, 2012