Book 'Em Danno!

Book "Em Danno!

WHEN THE ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION SICCED THEIR NEWSHOUNDS ON THE GREATER ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM THEY BLEW THE LID OFF OF A HUGE CHEATING SCANDAL NOT ONLY IN ATLANTA BUT IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. IT WASN'T THE STUDENTS WHO WERE CHEATING, RATHER THE ADMINISTRATORS, PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS! WHY? BECAUSE THEY HAD CASH INCENTIVES PAID WHEN THE STUDENTS UNDER THEIR WINGS IMPROVED THEIR PERFORMANCE ON NATIONAL STANDARDIZED TESTS. HELL, THESE KIDS WENT FROM BEING D-F STUDENTS TO VYING FOR HARVARD SCHOLARSHIPS! THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCHEME TO RIG THE SCORES WERE THE PEOPLE WHO DIRECTLY BENEFITED BY COLLECTING HUGE CASH PAYMENTS FOR THE BOGUS INCREASED PERFORMANCE! IN REALITY, IF THESE ADMINISTRATORS COULD HAVE REALLY PULLED OFF SUCH PERFORMANCE INCREASES BY THE AMOUNT INDICATED BY THEIR BOGUS TEST SCORES, THEY COULD HAVE COMFORTABLY RETIRED WITH THE BIG MONEY THEY COULD HAVE EARNED ON THE LECTURE CIRCUIT SHARING THEIR SECRETS WITH OTHER EDUCATORS.

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION EARNS ITSELF A PULITZER FOR THIS SERIES, "CHEATING OUR CHILDREN". NOT ONLY DID THESE "PUBLIC SERVANTS" DEFRAUD THE TAXPAYERS BY TAKING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES THEY DID NOT RIGHTFULLY EARN, BUT THEY BECAME FELONS CONSPIRING TO SYSTEMATICALLY DEFRAUD THE SYSTEM. SEND 'EM TO JAIL? YOU BET! ALSO, STRIP THEM OF THEIR PENSIONS AND ANY BENEFITS THEY EARNED OVER THEIR CAREER. SOUND HARSH? YEP, ASK MICHAEL T. JOYCE, A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE WHO TRIED TO GAME THE SYSTEM, HE LOST EVERYTHING. OR, JANE ORIE, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CONVICTED OF GAMING THE SYSTEM.

HOW IS IT THAT THE US HAS TRILLIONS FOR DEFENSE, YET, CAN'T SPEND MONEY TO EDUCATE THEIR YOUNG PEOPLE? HAVE A COUPLE OF STUDENT LOANS FOR THIRTY, FORTY THOUSAND AND WONDER WHY YOU HAVE TO EAT RAMEN NOODLES FOR THIRTY YEARS WHILE YOU PAY THOSE LOANS BACK? JUST THANK THE DEFENSE CONTRACTORS WHO SELL WAR TO YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. THEY WILL TELL YOU, THEY'RE sic KEEPING YOUR ASSES SAFE SO YOU CAN EAT YOUR RAMEN NOODLES! TRILLIONS FOR WARS, SUPERIOR WEAPONRY, AND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND A PIMM'S CUP FOR EDUCATION. I ASK YOU, "IS THIS FAIR?". THE BASTARDS!