AJC.com > Blogs > Get Schooled > Archives > 2005 > October > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHow I Told Atlanta’s Story
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I knew I was going to have to take some heat for this story about Atlanta Public Schools and the findings of an independent consultant hired by business leaders to assess whether Atlanta schools are moving forward fast enough.
Although I attended a presentation, which touched on some of the 150-page reports findings, my job was to cover the contents of the report. So when my story ran the next day, those who were at the presentation were understandably perplexed. How could we have been at the same meeting and emerged with such different perspectives? Like I said, I read the report. And while Atlanta schools are clearly making impressive strides in graduation rates and other areas, students are still struggling mightily in middle and high school.
There is no obvious solution to fixing schools that serve so many students from single-parent homes, from families that move around a lot, from neighborhoods where going to college is the exception rather than the norm. That doesn’t mean successful kids don’t emerge from Atlanta public schools every day. They do, and I’ve written about them. But, come on, no school system anywhere has figured out how to reach every child - a point touched on at the presentation.
The report and the presentation also dealt with how Atlanta needs help “telling its story,” so the public will know the good things going on. Because of this context, I knew some readers would not be happy with the story I wrote.
I have looked back over the story and if I had it to do over again I wouldn’t change my approach. That doesn’t mean I haven’t appreciated hearing from the people who thought I was unfair, biased and cynical. It gave me a chance to think hard about how to cover Atlanta schools, something I’ll be doing more of in the future. My belief is that I have to cover Atlanta the same way I have covered Gwinnett, Henry, Clayton and DeKalb - the bad along with the good.
Get Schooled readers, what do you think?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Jennifer
October 27, 2005 04:55 PM | Link to this
I am a loyal reader of yours, please keep reporting..the good, the bad and the ugly - for every county. The AJC is an independent source that can motivate communities to action.
Most school systems have figured out how to educate and motivate students who come from backgrounds full of opportunity. That’s good.
Very few school systems have figured out how to educate and motivate students who come from backgrounds empty of opportunity. That’s bad.
I take my hat off to Ms. Hall for opening up her records for an independent review. If more school systems were open to independent review, maybe collaboration could result in some progress, one child at a time.
I see good kids literally every day who are being failed by someone, no adult is blameless; parents, teachers, the “system”, and the community.
Keep reporting, fair and honest news stories - it is appreciated. It may just be the impetus for change.
By Jake
October 27, 2005 05:10 PM | Link to this
Seems like the same old ground. Just a week or so ago we were talking about 40% that never graduated, now 70% are graduating on time (perhaps this is 2003 compared to 2005). I think someone also suggested closing the gap on the NAEP scores would take like 70 years. Hall might be getting pretty good results, but the schools alone can’t close gaps caused by culture and genetics.
By Toby Cash
October 28, 2005 08:12 AM | Link to this
Been there(taught for 36 years), drove a school bus on many sporting events, and have basically seen it all. Kids leave school with no books, come to class without pencil, paper, books or class projects. Heard every excuse there is on “why they did not”. I have seen teachers bend and bend trying to help. There are kids who come to school only for free breakfast, free lunch,pick up girls, sell drugs or whatever.. But not to get an education. Something is wrong with the system when a judge tells a truant or offender to “go to school.” They do not want to be there in the first place. There are a few kids that want to be in school and are actually trying to learn all they can..But they are outnumbered. I challenge critics and parents who are disgruntled to either substitute teach or drive a bus. Just maybe, your eyes will be opened up. Be involved and get to know what is going on in your system.
By Swangirl
October 28, 2005 09:55 AM | Link to this
Patti, you did your job and did it well.
As someone who recently left her job at an Atlanta-based educational non-profit who also has a background in journalism, I understand your quandry.
You read the report and wrote about ALL the findings. Not just the good stuff. To sugarcoat it and paint only part of the picture would have done your readers a disservice.
I’m sorry if you are taking heat for this. But you can rest assured that what you did was proper and fair. Nobody can ask for more than that.
By RF
October 28, 2005 10:04 AM | Link to this
Like a dog chasing it’s tail, we can spin and spin trying to find “the solution” to public education’s woes. Nothing will ever be perfect, and each school and system must continue working to find the right combination of people and resouces to make positive changes. I sincerely do wish that the AJC and others would at least try to give equal time to the good and the bad. I’ve seen my school covered with news vans when there is a fight or an arrest, but let our kids collect thousands of dollars to help the poor at Christmas, and we can’t get the media here. I wish we could see more about the kids who overcome the odds set against them by poverty and reach the Ivy League. They’re out there, but nobody knows because that’s not senstional news. People want to hear the bad, but we need to be giving them the good too. Why can’t we see more print about the Title I schools that are improving every year and the poverty-ridden schools that are matching scores with affluent schools? It’s time, while reporting the bad “facts”, to also report the good.
By RF
October 28, 2005 10:08 AM | Link to this
While Patti’s report was “proper and fair”, and certainly based on the facts, why is it always considered “sugar-coating” if the media tells good news? Why can’t we balance such reports every now and then with some of the good news and successes in the midst of it all. I’m not saying we need to go overboard here, but as a parent and teacher I think it’s time to report ALL the facts about what’s going on in GA education. I’m tired of reading front-page stories about SAT scores while nothing is ever said about the struggling and successful. Is that kind of balance possible? You bet. I think Patti’s done a fine job of reporting the facts, but couldn’t we find some good facts to report and focus some attention on every now and then?
By Lisa
October 28, 2005 11:54 AM | Link to this
I would like to express that some one need to look into Aps schools on the Soutside of town.i’am verconcern with the Dr.Hall neglect with these school.i as a parent know for a fact that the community play a big part but that still does not give the board the right to abandon the south school, i often times to the diffrence with teaching method and rigorous work instead of adopting constructive, conducive and creativity implementing within soutside school.i have even notice the teachers they wouldn’t last on the northside of town due to mental shortage call incompentent.i witness teachers not all but most teachers act out just as worst as students, they have a mediocrity attitude and they continue to ge paid for baby sitting, the blame of course or the principal who Dr.Hall know any competent person would not teach at these school because the whole staff would need to be replace.i live in the southside district and we can not elect a woman who quit her postition just to run for state senate lost and now want to come back and do nothing!!!!!we need people who will not allow themself to become robots, we need people to work for the people not consulting firm or politicians!!! i as a parent, taxpayer vote these people in office and it’s high time for Dr.Hall who do not deserve bonuses for doing her job!!! she need to take the word RIGOROUS OUT OF HER CURRICULUM AND put CONSTRUCTIVE, CONDUCIVE and CREATIVITY!!!!! BACK IN THE SCHOOLS.THEY DO IT ON THE NORTHSIDE AND I HAVE THE UPMOST RESPECT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND PARENTS WHO WILL NOT ALLOW THERE SCHOOL TO RAN BY INCOMPETENT PEOPLE.
By Swangirl
October 28, 2005 12:20 PM | Link to this
Just to clarify, RF, in terms of “sugarcoating”, I only meant that it would have been wrong for Patti to only report the good found in the report and ignore the relevant concerns raised by it.
And I do agree with you that many times, it does feel like only the bad things get reported in the media regarding what’s going on in schools. There are wonderful things going on in our schools that don’t get heard.
By HS Science
October 28, 2005 04:21 PM | Link to this
Keep at it. We need balance in reporting. I get tired of hearing what a terrible job we are doing in education just as much as what a great job we are doing. The two sides will forever be at odds.
I have to face the fact that there are things that I am doing well in my classroom and there must be things that I am also doing wrong. So what if I get X% to pass an exam, I may have had more if I had done something a little different. Every child that fails my end of course test is not a lazy, non-carring student. When the child that does care and does try cannot pass, I have done something wrong.
So go on and tell me what’s right and let me keep at it but I also need to know what may be wrong to correct it (maybe I don’t want to hear it) because I need to.