This public school teacher has no sympathy for the Georgia cheaters.

[arely staircase]

I despise the overuse of standardized tests. But wrong is wrong and cheating is wrong.

[etherealtruth]

1. I wish they had taken plea deals ...

... their careers were over anyway, now they are going to prison

[Dems to Win]

2. If the banksters were already in jail, I'd be OK with jailing teachers for cheating

People who stole homes from thousands of fellow Americans using mortgage fraud are not in prison.

Given that reality, the only people I'd put in prison now are violent offenders, for the protection of the rest of us. But these teachers should not be in prison.

So many people have gotten away with so much worse without even a slap on the wrist, it feels unjust to put these teachers in prison.

[arely staircase]

8. one of my genuine disapointments with the Obama/Holder justice department was the lack of Wall Stree

prosecutions. Otherwise I am pretty pleased with President Obama and AG Holder. That said ,two wrongs don't make a right. These people shouldn't get off lightly for a genuinely corrupt conspiracy that undermines trust in my profession. They made their beds.

[libdem4life]

3. I remember the pressure well back in the 70s, but our district changed the curriculum

which is legal, to emphasize the necessary learning to pass the tests. We were given the tests so we knew what to absolutely include in our classroom...which was a bit uncomfortable, but surely not illegal.

We were in a poor, largely Mexican-American district in Los Angeles County and it just wasn't fair to make our kids "compete" against the Beverly Hills-type kids. Some of these kids came from homes who didn't have a book in them, let alone someone to read to them.

This was when the big thing was Individualization. A Learning Plan for each kid. With a class size of 30-32, a 2nd-3rd combination, and abilities spanning Kindergarten to 6th grade, I finally decided to change my line of work.

[arely staircase]

9. I don't know the questions on the tests. But I can pretty much figure it out because I am teaching

to a curriculum designed to cover the stuff anticipated to be on the standardized tests. It isn't corrupt or cheating. it is how schools work. it is the infamous 'teaching to the test.' I try to make class fun and cover a wide variety of subjects outside of that narrow focus. So yeah, the use of these tests is out of control.

[hobbit709]

4. What about the administrators who applied the pressure on the teachers?

Was anything done to them-I doubt it. The teachers were left holding the bag.

[former9thward]

5. The investigation took in everyone.

Among them were teachers, principals and testing coordinators. The top one was the district superintendent, Beverly Hall, but she died before the trial.

[arely staircase]

10. them too. it was a pretty big conspiracy. nt

[Comrade Grumpy]

6. They don't need to spend years in prison. That's fucking ridiculous.

[arely staircase]

11. arguably true. but it isn't some great injustice. maybe on the severe side but not out of bounds

imho

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

7. I had not heard of this WHAT IN THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

W and Cheney kill ONE MILLION PEOPLE (now documented) but we are putting school teachers in prison?

[arely staircase]

12. you make a good point. shit lets just let everyone get away with whatever until Cheney is prosecuted

Sounds reasonable.