EDUCATION
Disadvantaged children were hurt all the more
Regarding the APS cheating scandal, one need only look at the percentage of students receiving free or reduced lunches at the schools involved to see that these so-called educators cheated the very students who were the most disadvantaged (and could least afford it). Beverly Hall should have put that in her legacy booklet.
After all that has been uncovered, can anyone really believe that the “accomplishments” she keeps touting were born of anything other than cheating? I don’t think so.
Sheryl Williams, Douglasville
EDUCATION
Hall displays arrogance vs. genuine pride
With regard to Beverly Hall’s audacious pose in response to her exposure, why should this be surprising?
I have learned through many life experiences that while shame is the reaction of someone who has genuine pride, cowardly denial blended with a cynical self-aggrandizement is the reaction of someone who is merely arrogant.
Ricks Carson, Atlanta
EDUCATION
Educators lost their way after schools lost prayer
Regarding the APS test scandal, Atlanta teachers and administrators were caught cheating (and then lying about it). Bonuses were based on their supposed performance. If you think this is limited to Atlanta, you have your head in the sand.
Years ago, the courts ostensibly threw prayer out of the classroom.
What they really did was set us out on the course of secularism.
The chickens are coming home to roost. These teachers and administrators are “fruits” of prayerless education. If the people teaching our children are lying, cheating and stealing, what hope do we as a society have to be honest and fair?
Our republic was framed around Christian principles. Take away those principles, and our system has no backbone. All errors contain within themselves the seeds of their demise. Gus Hertz, Locust Grove
ENERGY
Congress should act to promote green sector
Amid all the gloomy economic news, it was heartening to see the “green” sector is not only producing jobs, but jobs that pay above average (“ ‘Green’ jobs rise in state, Atlanta,” Business, July 14).
Imagine what the growth in the green economy would be (and the jobs that go with it) if we put a price on carbon-based fuels that motivated even greater investments in clean energy and energy efficiency.
An analysis from the Center for American Progress found that a shift from fossils to clean energy would put more people back to work. Clean-energy investments create about 16.7 jobs for every $1 million in spending. Fossil fuels generate only 5.3 jobs per $1 million in spending.
Congress must consider a steadily rising fee on coal, oil and gas that will give investors a clear price signal to make this shift.
Returning revenue from the fee to all households will enable us to wean our nation off dirty energy, without inflicting economic hardship.
Steve Valk, Atlanta
