Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Cox, Perdue: Duck and Cover

Maybe all the schools in Georgia should be private. At least, then, the incompetent CEO, Kathy Cox, would be fired. Seriously, can you imagine parents at a private school allowing an administrator to remain who failed to align curriculum with the ( not standardized, per Tina) test required for advancement to the next grade? Me neither. But, in this case, Cox thinks that she should face no scrutiny what-so-ever, and says that those who think otherwise are just being partisan.

I work with children every day. Many of them are attending summer school because of Cox's failure. These families cross the political and demographic spectrum-and they are all fighting mad, as they should be. Are they angry that their child is being held accountable? No. They're angry that their children were short-changed and that taxpayers are being forced to fund the solution.

The reality is that our schools are not private (though that is, in truth, the goal of these Atlanta republicans) and our state school superintendent is elected not employed. So, in two years, it's going to be the voter's job to fire her and the rest of the republican team that thinks leadership in education includes the fluff while neglecting the basics. From teacher gift cards to "parental involvement coaches," Perdue and company have systematically funded the icing on a cardboard cake. And, when they're asked to account for their actions-or in Cox's case, her silence, her failure to advocate for children and her preference for political sound-bite over actual reform-they cry foul. They are happy to hold teachers, parents and children accountable, but accountability stops at the door to the gold dome. It's up to the voters to say otherwise.

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4 comments:

Tina said...

A test for which the items have not been field tested cannot really be described as standardized. "Standardized" suggests that the test is valid.
The ACT, SAT, PSAT, ITBS etc. are standardized. Georgia's tests lack validity data.

Amy Morton said...

excellent point

Amy Morton said...

Steve Leeds says:

So THIS is the new Dade County Democratic ballot?
Stephen Leeds

Funny!

Amy Morton said...

Steve Leeds says:

So THIS is the new Dade County Democratic ballot?
Stephen Leeds

Funny!