More on APS

"Atlanta teachers caught in scandal told Channel 2 news ‘We begged for help'

Several Atlanta teachers who claimed they have been falsely accused of altering answers in school test cheating investigation said they went to an outside agency to complain about harassment to boost test scores but no substantive action was taken to address their concerns. "No one listened to us. We tried to tell. We couldn't trust anyone in the system," said teacher Sharona Thomas-Wilson. Wilson showed Channel 2’s Tom Regan emails her co-workers sent nearly two years ago to the Georgia Association of Educators, an organization that represents public school teachers" (AJC)

This is so disappointing as GAE and PAGE are our 2 "unions" - not really, but they are the watchdogs to protect the teachers and here GAE let things slide.

And here for more fall out.

And the locals hit a new low

Dallas Fort Worth has had seven churches robbed of their air conditioners. They are stealing the air conditioners for the copper.

We have had four churches robbed in the past week.

Do these idiots not understand it's July? In Georgia? Is wanting other people's stuff that important?

Atlanta Cheating - spreads to Texas

So, do you think she'll keep her new job?

One of the Superintendents from Atlanta Public Schools - one of those named in all those pesky reports on cheating - has been hired in Texas. Parents are not pleased.

She is supposed to start tomorrow - and they are voting on the pesky problem tomorrow.

She said, he said

Wife's Diary:

Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a nice restaurant for dinner. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it. Conversation wasn't flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed, but he didn't say much.

I asked him what was wrong; He said, 'Nothing.' I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn't upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it. On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving.

I can't explain his behavior I don't know why he didn't say, 'I love you, too.' When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent. Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed. About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep - I cried. I don't know what to do. I'm almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.


Husband's Diary:

Boat wouldn't start, can't figure it out.

Mixed bag

Weapons of math instruction have been found throughout the city. I would LOVE to know why.


I have no words. Rumors about the cheating have been rampant for years, but Beverly Hall was the Golden Girl. Will she give back her bonuses now? Her awards? Or will continue to deny she played any part (although THAT lie is falling apart).

Six Word Saturday

Hold teachers to a higher standard.



For more Six Word Saturday participants, click here.

This has been the week where Atlanta became - once again - the butt of America's jokes - in this case because Atlanta Public School was finally outed and over 100 educators have confessed to changing standardized test scores so that it looked like the schools were improving. I am not providing a link as there are literally thousands.

I understand being afraid of losing your job, but I do not understand selling your soul in order to keep the job.

But I digress.

I spent the week wrapping up a summer school class. Everyone had to do a PowerPoint presentation (because it was easier for the teacher to grade than a paper, I guess. Sitting through 2 dozen PowerPoints was torment.)

I am not a big fan of PowerPoints.

But I digress.

Everyone of these students was also a teacher and had at least a bachelor's degree. While no one owned up to teaching Language Arts, several talked about teaching reading.

I am so tired of the misuse of your and you're, of its and it's, there and they're and their. If the teachers would do this in a class, for a grade, in front of their peers, you know they misuse those same words when they teach.

No wonder the kids misuse the words. THEY WERE NEVER TAUGHT CORRECTLY.

I know every blogger, myself included, flubs while we write passionately about something. (I have corrected this 3 times now. But I corrected it!) But surely you take extra care when it is a class you are taking and presenting? For a grade. In front of other (theoretically) educated people?

One talked about "a families economic situation." Really?

No wonder the teachers in APS felt they had to lie and cheat. And, no, none of the teachers I am ridiculing were from APS.

Denver Hulsey: Esom Hill

This is one that Denver wrote - about the town he was born in. The man can play and sing - but the songs he has written himself are to blow you away.

Denver Hulsey - you'll be hearing more.