Charges Too Harsh for Former Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools

Beverly Hall, former Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools (APS), turned herself into the Fulton County Jail early Tuesday morning in regards to charges brought against her for the CRCT cheating scandal that rocked the city in 2008. Hall’s charges included racketeering; cheating; conspiring to cheat, or concealing cheating; and theft by taking. The court original set bond at $7.5 million, but later reduced it to $200,000. If charged, Hall faces up to 40 years in jail. The impact of the cheating scandal brought a lot of scrutiny to the city and the Atlanta Public School system, where many parents and local citizens worried about the effect this would have on education. Although cheating is inherently wrong and justice needs to be served, the charges brought against Hall are too harsh and arbitrary.

Hall and 32 other APS teachers and faculty are being treated like common criminals – not learned professionals who fell victim to increased pressures. Charges for malicious acts such as aggravated assault and battery are often prosecuted less aggressively than Hall’s. Former Mayor Shirley Franklin believes that the public has fallen prey to a mob mentality, stating, “Yes, cheating is awful. And so is conviction before a fair trial. I believe every accused person deserves a fair trial under a set of laws that promises to be just and balanced” ("Shirley Franklin: APS Indictments...", AJC.com). The charges and absurd amount of bail indicate that Hall and her counterparts are being judged before a hearing even takes place. The state is essentially cheating them by inappropriately assessing their charges.  The charges are inconsistent, with many of the accused facing different charges for similar crimes. The nature of this case does not justify these severe punishments. 

Willena Rogers



Hall Awarded for Cheating

Cheating is wrong in every context. It is the second moral that most of our parents instill in us as children after they teach us how to share. Apparently, Beverly Hall’s parents did not teach her the importance of being honest. Or maybe she chose to go against the grain. Whatever the case may be, the point still stands that her selfishness will have devastating effects on the children that fell victim to this scandal, not to mention the reputation of Atlanta Public Schools.

Hall’s success, which includes salary, bonuses, and recognition, among other things, was based on a lie. What is worse is the fact that she preyed on innocent children and was able to sleep at night. She not only stole money from the state each time she collected a check, but she also deprived each student of the remediation that they may have needed to be successful at the next level. Her decisions will have everlasting effects on every child that was passed along.

Willena claims that “the charges brought against Hall are too harsh…” I beg to differ. Hall’s bail should not have been reduced. According to 11alive, Hall took home over $500,000 in “performance pay” from 1999-2009 (this total does not include her base pay). Hall’s crimes cannot be compared to “aggravated assault and battery.” What she did is embezzlement. She should be stripped of every accolade, award, and title that she has been given since assuming the position as the Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools.

Lemuel A. Way

Oz the Great and Powerful is set as the prequel to the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. It follows the life of Oscar Diggs (Oz), a two bit magician from Kansas. Although the accuracy of the film may be in question—like the flying baboons and which witch is which—,there are many similarities between the two films. Both of the films begin in black and white and move to color as the main characters venture into new worlds. Oscar and Dorothy’s friends in the new world resemble people they knew and loved in Kansas.

As far as the content is concerned, Oz’s story line is simple. Mr. Diggs is a lady’s man. In Kansas he is marred by unsuccessful magic tricks and promises that he cannot seem to keep. His charm follows him into the new world, but the faith the people have in him enables him to pull off his greatest magic trick yet.

This film runs for a little over two hours; however, the entire film is entertaining. The audience has a chance to see Oscar as a conniving person at the beginning of the film as he will do and say anything to accumulate the “King’s” wealth, to a compassionate, loving person as he shows his emotional side when dealing with the little “China Girl.” The battle scenes are very interesting too.

Oz the Great and Powerful leaves room for a sequel. At the end of the movie, Evanora is carried off by her flying monkeys as she is defeated by Glinda the Good Witch. Oz hands out gifts to the main people that helped him scare Theodora off. Much like he does at the end of The Wizard of Oz.

Lemuel Way

Because, because, because, because, because...

An evaluation of any film that proposes to recreate a classic world or to add to a much beloved story must necessarily take into account the success or failure of that endeavor, not merely from a purely functional perspective, but also from an emotional one.

Over the last decade or so, Hollywood has produced a vast quantity of remakes or "reboots." From 70s and 80s television shows such as "The Dukes of Hazzard" and "21 Jump Street" to movies such as "Halloween, "King Kong" and "True Grit," the list is long and varied. Some are well done; others are purely derivative. Few represent any true innovation.

"Oz the Great and Powerful" distinguishes itself from the pack by offering viewers something new and original. Rather than merely regurgitating existing content, this new "Oz" does what all the best stories do. It asks "what if?" It creates both a prequel to a long-beloved tale and a film that is valid and entertaining in and of itself.

As Lemuel points out, the new film does mimic the original in areas, and incorporates motifs and themes well-known to fans of  Dorothy and company. It's important to note, however, that in this, too, the new film pays homage  to the old rather than simply aping it. Watching the movie evolve to color, seeing original characters echoed in new ones, revisiting Dorothy's dissatisfaction with her life as mirrored by Oscar's own--all these experiences create a pleasing backdrop of familiarity against which the new and highly entertaining story plays out. Further, the vivid imagery, fantastic scenarios, and the frequency with which characters break into song work together to create a sense of wonder similar to the original film.

In all, this film adds nicely to the wonderful world that is Oz.

by Maggie Worth

The SAT: Proclaiming America's Faulty Value System Since 1942

Intelligence comes in varied forms, each most effective when balanced with others.
Photo credit: © Winterberg | Dreamstime.com

I agree with Murray’s position. The SAT has become useless in light of cognitive stratification, effective achievement testing, and the value now placed on other qualifications. I further contend that continued use of the SAT is detrimental because it enforces a distorted view of intelligence.

When I took the SAT in 1990, my scores earned me numerous acceptances (including Yale), a stack of academic scholarships, and membership in MENSA. I did no prep work whatsoever. I didn't need to. As with most IQ and other “aptitude” tests, the SAT is specifically designed to measure the type of intelligence I happen to have in abundance. If, however, I had been asked to describe the room in which I took the test or, worse, to draw it, I’d have failed miserably. I do not register things around me – a skill critical to successful police work – and I cannot draw – a necessary ability for artists and architects.

For some inexplicable reason, society reveres my kind of intelligence and thinks everyone ought to aspire to it. But “best” is a variable value. The best college (or job) is the one most suited to an individual’s goals and abilities. “Elite” colleges are neither necessary nor beneficial to everyone and anyone who thinks doctoring is a better or more important profession than plumbing has never seen a table drain back up during an autopsy.

I currently work with the most talented, intuitive designer I have seen in the course of my 20-year marketing career. She’s also a natural teacher and would make an extraordinary college design instructor… if she could pass the GRE. Since her brain doesn't work that way, no student will ever profit from her skill, ability, or mentorship. This is the kind of sheer idiocy perpetuated by emphasis on tests like the SAT.  

Maggie Worth

Still A Valuable Measurement Of Collegiate Skills

Murray’s suggestion to abolish the SAT holds no warrant as the standardized test is a necessary measurement of a student’s ability to succeed in post-secondary education. Maggie argues that the SAT “enforces a distorted view of intelligence”; however, people are failing to remember that the SATs are not measuring what one’s learned, but rather one’s ability to analyze, reason, and solve—critical skills needed to succeed in college.

Murray’s claim that SAT scores are a direct correlation to socioeconomic status is completely inconceivable. I, myself, did not attend a high school associated with high society nor did I have the “affluence” to receive prep from Kaplan or Princeton Review. However, the high school I attended—one of which Murray would classify as mediocre—offered a year-long SAT prep class which allowed me to acquire the strategies needed to earn an acceptable score.

Murray’s proposal that colleges should only regard achievement test scores and GPAs as requirement for admission ignores the fact that assessing the combination of SAT Reasoning scores and GPAs is a more accurate indication of a student’s capability to succeed in college. The measurement of a high school GPA alone does not assess a student’s reasoning and analytical skills. High GPAs and achievement test scores can be obtained through pure memorization which fails to measure actual intellect. If anything, such proposal—if followed through—would only foster more controversy in the topic of students’ academic success having a parallel relationship to their social classes.

In contrast to Murray’s argument, the SAT reveals itself to be a valuable measurement in the consideration of future college students and their academic capabilities. Without such measurement, colleges would have an inadequate indication of a student’s intellect.

Ashley Durant

Private Or Public?

 Private schools administer an exceedingly higher quality of education than that of public schools.  The implementation of a comprehensive learning environment, a practical student-teacher ratio, and a rooted disciplinary structure distinguishes private schools from its public school counterparts. The high standards held by private institutions reward students with adequate academic skill-sets and values. 

One evident advantage of attending private schools is the intensive academic structure. Unlike state schools, private schools do not adhere to the educational regulations administered by the government and have the independence to create a curriculum that offers alternative teaching methods as well as the option of teaching subjects deemed most important. Additionally, in many cases, private school teachers have advanced degrees in their subjects which give private school students an advantage over public school students taught by the less educated. These factors likely contribute to private school students’ consistent high-ranking scores on standardized tests and college entrance exams. On top of superior academics, small class sizes also contribute to the advantages of private schools. According to the National Center of Education Statistics, private institutions have an average student-teacher ratio of 12:1 as opposed to 23:1 in public schools. Small class sizes allow instructors to give individualized attention to each student which fulfills academic needs, improves the learning environment, and cultivates academic achievement.  A 2002 study by educational researchers Bruce Biddler and David Berliner showed that the smaller the class size, the better the average student performed on academic achievement tests. Moreover, the disciplinary structure rooted into the school system fosters a much safer environment compared to the unstable and temperamental atmosphere of public schools.

In contrast to the limited opportunities given to public school students, private school students have innumerable possibilities as they are provided with the resources and instilled with the knowledge to advance and succeed in post-secondary education. 


Ashley Durant


The Benefits of Public School


All forms of education are important ones because education is vital in our society. Despite their similarities, some forms may be more beneficial than others. Parents can choose whether their kids are home schooled or sent to private or public institutions. When choosing between home school and private school, many points can be taken into consideration on which is better for the child to attend. Although private school is a great choice, we cannot overlook the advantages that public schools provide that aren't obtainable in a private school setting. Students who attend public school are more prepared for our society because they are taught to live with and respect diverse cultures, learn an art for survival, and despite what is normally assumed, engage with experienced faculties in well-built facilities.

The students who occupy the public school facilities are more prepared for today's society because they experience other cultures. Just by attending and socializing students become familiar with different backgrounds. Public school students are taught the art of survival, because sometimes teachers don't have the time to give anyone extra attention and the school does not allow as much parental input like private schools. Students are forced to learn the curriculum through studying and creative learning. Also, unlike private schools, the faculty of public schools are highly advised to follow strict certification. According to the academic source of the EducationBug.org, there is a great number of public school teachers who are more qualified than private school teachers. Finally, public schools are often generously funded through the lottery and other governmental funds so the facilities are well kept and can offer extra privileges that private school cannot afford to provide, such as free transportation, free after school tutoring programs, and most importantly, a free education.

Courtney Godfrey

The Benefits of Internships

The main purpose of college or secondary education is to prepare students for careers after they graduate. Within the study of each  major, there are courses and assignments that provide an understanding of what the future may hold in those respective career paths. While we may  agree that collge or secondary education does fulfill its purpose of information, we cannnot overlook the benefits of more hands-on experience that comes with the privledge on an internship. The experience that internships provide help secure employment, which cannot be duplicated in assignments, and they simulate real experiences while leaving room for error.

According to research from the CollegePlus.org, students who graduated with internships were more successful finding employment. Their research reports state that in 2008 employers offered jobs to nearly 70 percent of their interns, which is a significant jump from 57 percent in 2001. Another benefit of internships, that classrooms lack, is the hands-on experience. For a nursing student, a full day of clinical experience cannot be established in a lecture hall because their are no patients, no emergencies, and a college campus is not parallel to an acutal hospital. In an internship, a student will not feel burdened by the pressures of the real responsibliilties. Because the intern and the employer are aware that the student is here for experience purposes, mishaps are easily forgiven. In some cases they are beneficial because it is preparation for real life misfortunes in their career path.

There are numberous benefits that result from having actual hands-on experience before prior to being employed. Students that complete interships have experience beyond classroom walls, they have a clear perception on how errors can be prevented in the real workplace, and they have a higher chance of finding employment.

~Courtney Godfrey

Are Internships Worth It?

Many colleges require an internship or practicum course as a requirement for graduation because the benefits derived from completing these courses do not exist in a traditional classroom setting. However, the actual value of a college internship is debatable. Courtney argues that internships provide invaluable experience with many benefits. While it is true that they are beneficial to some students, every internship experience is different. Instead,  some students may find that it is just an annoying
major requirement where they are treated as executive assistants rather
than interns, making a rewarding and productive experience difficult to attain.

With the pressures of studying, exams, work, and extracurricular activities, requiring a student to complete an internship may not be beneficial to them. Students may feel obligated and pressured to acquire an internship. They are not intrinsically motivated, which hinders student performance. Furthermore, students are not placed in positions in organizations where their talents can be utilized.  Interns are executive assistants - getting coffee, running errands, and making copies instead of learning from their mentors. Bosses look at students as free labor instead of invaluable assets to their companies. And despite the statistics, having an internship does not guarantee employment after graduation.

In spite of these issues, I agree that internships can be rewarding experiences. They develop interpersonal skills, attain networking opportunities, and learn how to solve real-world problems in the workplace.  Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the student to research internship opportunities and find the best one for them. Part of the internship experience is learning how to be flexible. If students find themselves in an unfortunate situation, they should think positively and make the most out of a bad situation.

Willena Rogers

Classification and Public Policy

Would classifying individuals help or hurt society?
© 2013 Pixabay - Public Domain Images

One of our country’s mantras is that “all men are created equal,” yet political wars and cultural differences have made us isolated and disparate individuals. This increasing isolation of cultures leads to inappropriately classifying people into groups. Could adopting a policy at the state level that would prohibit classifying people into groups be a good idea?

To classify something is to place it in a group or category. This group shares common characteristics either physically or inherently. For example, a beach ball may be placed in the same category as a soccer ball – they not only share physical attributes, but are also used for similar purposes, such as athletic activities. Although placing inanimate objects into categories is easy, it is ill-fitted to apply these techniques to human beings. Despite being a singular species, human beings are varied and complex. Attempting to classify them into groups leads to the proliferation of stereotypes and generalizations. Adopting a policy to prevent this would inhibit the unfair treatment of others. 

In addition, classifying people is inherently wrong. It suggests that all people are not getting equal respect or protection under the law. We shouldn’t need laws that prohibit this, but having laws that protect these rights is an unfortunate necessity. Similar policies already exist today, namely the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. We are all the same and should not be treated differently, regardless of any of the aforementioned differences. One group of people is not inferior to another and shouldn’t feel so.


Willena Rogers

It Depends on the Classification

In her essay, Willena claims that “classifying people is inherently wrong.” However, careful consideration shows that she provides insufficient evidence to support her argument. Comparing humans to objects is like the old cliché--comparing apples to oranges. The question is not whether classifying people into groups is a good or bad idea, but rather what classifications justify that individual being placed into a group? Labeling people by anything other than sex and nationality is flawed.

America is the only country that separates an individual by skin tone. If this is what Willena was implying, then she does have a valid point about “stereotypes and generalizations.” Distinguishing people by race, color and ethnicity contradicts the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It gives employers and colleges the opportunity to hire, accept, or deny a person based on these characteristics, hence discriminating because of these attributes. Also, being able to classify people by these traits negates the declaration that “all men are created equal.”

I do not support grouping people by race, color, or ethnicity; however, I do believe that grouping people by national origin is warranted. For example, Americans and Asians are raised speaking different languages. Furthermore, these two groups share different origins, traditions, and religions. Classifying these people by nationality does not “suggest that all people are not getting equal respect,” but instead actually gives them an identity. When I visit other countries, they view me as an “American.” They have no interest in whether I am black or white. Although the law prohibits discrimination, the evidence is on college and job applications. Until this flaw is corrected, we will be forever branded.

Lemuel A. Way

Why the need for a New Stadium?



Towards the end of 2009, Atlanta Falcons’ owner Arthur Blank began mentioning the “need” to build a new home for his up and coming team. The idea of a new stadium sounded good at first, but as the details continue to unfold, Falcons fans and city residents are beginning to see that that “good” may not be in their best interest. Sure, it will create temporary jobs. And eventually it will bring revenue to the city. But it does not make sense. The Falcons do not need another stadium because the facts show that it would not be about the fan experience, but more about the money in the owners’ pockets.

In 2008, the Dome was renovated. The building was painted inside and out, new and refurbished chairs were installed, and both monitors were enlarged. Why the need for a new stadium? Attendance is always low. The Dome is seldom more than 75% full. At times, it is barely 50% full. A new stadium with higher ticket prices will only decrease attendance. Why the need for a new stadium? The Georgia World Congress Center has made reference to Personal Seat Licenses (PSL). A PSL is a one-time fee that the owner of a seat will have to pay in addition to the season ticket price of their seat. The three most recent built football stadiums’ PSLs range from $1,000-$150,000. There are multiple stories about people who have held seats for over 20 years and are unable to renew them because of this license implementation.

Although I would love to have a new stadium, there is no need for one. Increased season ticket prices and PSLs will only push the real fans, like me, out into the streets. In addition, city residents will have to endure another tax increase.

Lemuel A. Way

 

Owner Profits Profit the City

© Dana Rothstein | Dreamstime.com

Lemuel is quite correct that a new stadium would mean increased ticket prices and that one primary purpose of a new stadium is to increase owner profits. However, an objective cost-benefit assessment must also consider the potential resulting increase in taxes collected.

Most manufacturing and sales analysts agree that selling a fewer number of high-margin items is preferable to selling a greater number of low-margin items because less energy and fewer resources are expended for equal or greater profit. A new stadium allows the team owner to increase the cost of both single-game and season tickets. But because the stadium is funded by tax dollars, the owner's overall expense per game increases very little. The owner can afford to sell fewer tickets because the profit margin on each sale is higher. From a tax collection standpoint, this means more taxable revenue offset by fewer tax credits, which means that the tax authority collects more business income tax dollars. Depending on the owner's incorporation structure, the state could stand to collect higher personal income taxes as well.

In addition, a higher ticket price means a higher sales tax collected per ticket. Say, for example, that a current ticket costs sixty dollars. At a five percent rate, the city collects three dollars per ticket in taxes. If ticket prices increase to, say, eighty dollars, the tax collected is four dollars per ticket. Ticket sales can fall up to twenty-five percent without decreasing the overall sales tax collected. If sales fall by only twenty percent, the city stands to collect significant additional sales tax dollars.

Evaluating the matter from a purely economic perspective, the potential tax revenue increase alone is enough to justify serious consideration of a new stadium.

Maggie Worth