EDUCATION
Response to “Help APS students break poverty’s lock.” Editorial, July 17
The editorial “Atlanta Public Schools/Help APS students break poverty’s lock” is one of the best I’ve read about the subject. The AJC summed up the issues perfectly and provided readers with great perspective — both in hindsight, and going forward. The newspaper continues to impress with the coverage
of this tragic situation. Keep up the good work.
Julie Lauten, Atlanta
Demand that APS makes the most of this moment
APS has the attention of the entire world — a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How will it use its five minutes of fame? The clock is ticking.
The world awaits APS’ response. Will APS find its way out of a media-driven whirlwind and take the reins of a golden opportunity to establish, and communicate, new vision? Its moment in the spotlight could be a transformational time in APS history — or time lost.
Significant time is being given to blame, finger-pointing and reform around the cheating scandal — an issue not yet defined as the cause or the effect of a failed mission. Who is accountable for defining problems that have historically plagued APS? Who is leading a new vision? The answers to these questions are urgently sought.
We must hold APS leadership accountable for much more than reacting to a crisis. We must demand that they do the hard work now of performing a formal, comprehensive analysis of the problems to validate a new system that guarantees students are educated.
Kenya Napper Bello, Atlanta
Real mistake isn’t tests, it’s social promotion
Regarding “Overemphasis on testing cheats us” (Editorial, July 17), Julie Salisbury’s blaming the standard testing requirement for the APS cheating fiasco because it does not address students’ differences, nuances spoken and individualism is characteristic of those who support (directly or unconsciously) social promotion.
The underlying rationale for standardized testing is to ensure that students’ knowledge — at least of reading, writing and ’rithmatic — qualifies them to progress to the next level or graduation. Low graduation rates and the number of college-bound students needing remedial studies show that students do not possess this basic knowledge. Standardized tests clearly spell out the knowledge needed. It should be up to the teachers to make sure students know what they need to know. Focusing on students’ differences, nuances spoken and individualism (rather than knowledge) will not prepare them for the jobs of the future, and could set them up for failure — but at least they’ll feel good about being cheated.
Charles France, Marietta
IMMIGRATION
Bring undocumented workers out of hiding
“Building competitiveness through immigration reform” (Opinion, July 17) presents credible policy changes aimed at allowing immigrants trained in certain fields to work here. However, the authors fail to mention the undocumented currently in the United States. Many have lived, worked and contributed to our society and our economy for decades.
We have turned a blind eye as immigrants streamed across our borders seeking jobs and a better life. We have been happy to pay cheap labor for back-breaking work that none of us can, nor want to do. The rise in anti-immigrant views and enactment of state legislation are aimed at sending the undocumented back to their country of origin. But we as a nation will not deport these millions. Our economy cannot sustain that loss. Most Americans would find it morally wrong.
It’s fine to propose making it easier for a physics graduate student to stay in this country, but true immigration reform must bring the undocumented millions out of the shadows. It must also offer a path toward citizenship for those who meet reasonable criteria and who want to become legal Americans — with the papers to prove it.
Krista Brewer, Atlanta
ECONOMY
Yes, the government can get us back to work
Tom Gambeski asked if anyone thinks government can create enough jobs to get this country back on track (“Get government out of capitalism’s way,” Readers write, Opinion, July 17). The answer is “yes” — but they do not live in the anti-government world of the tea party.
The private sector is not going to expand or hire until consumer demand goes back to its pre-recession levels. All of the tax cuts and corporate giveaways in the world won’t change that fact. Consumer demand is not going to rise until unemployment goes down and incomes rise. To get us out of this Catch-22 situation, the government must step in and increase (not cut) spending.
When an infrastructure job is funded by the government, for example, private companies are contracted to do the work. This adds more people to the payroll and they will spend their wages — thereby creating more demand. Expanding this scenario across the economy will reduce unemployment and get our country back on track.
Mike Haremski, Tucker
ETHICS
Governor, legislators keep breaking the rules
Gov. Nathan Deal was concerned about the cheating scandal of the Atlanta Public Schools, as he should be.
It’s a shame that he doesn’t have the same feelings concerning elected public officials. He (and members of the Republican Party) have worked hard to destroy the state ethics commission.
Behavior exhibited by elected public officials in taking bribes, gifts, etc., is not conducive to good government.
It is unethical for any public official to take any gift, regardless of the value.
Jack Dorsey, Mount Zion
