Loose Lips Daily: Teacher Cheating? Edition
A deliberative roundup of one city's local politics. Send your tips, releases, stories, events, etc. to lips@washingtoncitypaper.com. And get LL Daily sent straight to your inbox every morning!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Order on the Ballot
Good afternoon sweet readers! No, LL does not appreciate jokes about his resemblance to Butler's coach. News time:
It's a busy day in D.C. politics. First, Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh is holding a hearing on the Gray administration's hiring practices. And Mayor Vince Gray will try and turn the corner with his State of the District speech this evening.
Teacher Cheating?: USA Today has a must-read investigative story about DCPS' Crosby S. Noyes Education Campus, which has had periods of impressive test score improvement that coincide with periods where there were "extraordinarily high numbers of erasures" from wrong answers to right answers on standardized tests. "On the 2009 reading test, for example, seventh-graders in one Noyes classroom averaged 12.7 wrong-to-right erasures per student on answer sheets; the average for seventh-graders in all D.C. schools on that test was less than 1. The odds are better for winning the Powerball grand prize than having that many erasures by chance, according to statisticians consulted by USA TODAY." So, were the stats juked, and did the wrong teachers wind up getting bonuses from the edu-philanthropy circuit that's made former Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee such a star? Good question, reader, good question. The story also highlights DCPS' pushback against efforts to do a thorough investigation of these erasures. But DCPS put out a press release this morning talking up their commitment to "testing integrity."
AFTER THE JUMP: Cop Shortage Coming; State of the District; Thefts Rising ...
Cop Shortage Looming: Police Chief Cathy Lanier tells the public safety committee that there's a cop shortage looming because the department doesn't have the cash to recruit. "Lanier told The Associated Press that the current number of sworn officers — 3,879 — is about 200 fewer than it was in June 2009. The department is also bracing for the expected departure of officers who joined the force during a hiring surge 25 years ago and are becoming eligible to retire, creating a void of experience at a time when the department does not have funds to recruit a new crop of officers."
The State of the District: According to Jonetta: "What is the state of the District? A certifiable mess." Meanwhile, Colby King says that the District appears to be "steering without an ethical compass." "[Marion] Barry still has supporters. But his ability to influence people out of their respect for his standards and values is gone. It’s called moral authority, and he has none. Gray and the council are headed in that direction." Gray's speech, meanwhile, has been promoted several times via the city's emergency alert email system, as well as in the email signatures of dc.gov accounts.
In Other News: People stealing. Hotel growth sluggish. Gray lets cabbies charge an extra buck. The Post looks at Marion Barry's old block on Capitol Hill, finds it gentrified. DCPS McKinley Tech investigator fired.
Gray sked: 6:30 p.m. Eastern Senior High Auditorium, State of the District.
12:43 pm
Cabbies 2, Residents 0
The cabbies came out big in favor of Gray during the election, and he has repaid them by lifting the $19 cap and letting them charge an extra buck for fuel. Meanwhile, legions of residents get stranded in parts of the city because cabbies don't want to cross town when the bars close, and the cab companies we have are pathetic when it comes to calling for a cab. To top it all off, we have a taxi commission that doesn't meet and an industry with no real oversight, so none of these problems will get fixed anytime soon. Anyone want to take bets that the fare system that allowed cabbies to literally steal from riders will be back in place by the end of Gray's one and only term?
12:50 pm
How come there's no coverage of the Thomson school incident? First a DCPS elementary school student gets found to have brought cocaine to school (which made other students sick), then we come to find out that the student is a Maryland resident. THEN we come to find out that potentially thousands of kids from MD and VA are attending DCPS (at a rate of $9,000 per year per kid, that's basically a $9,000,000 check DC taxpayers have given to Maryland and VA.).
Meanwhile, the DCPS preschool system is a joke, with literally thousands of DC residents on waiting lists for their kids to attend neighborhood schools.
I hear lots and lots about investigations, why isn't this being studied further or being talked about?
2:34 pm
If DCPS is in such dire need of reform, why are there scofflaws from outside? The media would have us believe that MD and VA school systems are supposedly superior to DCPS. Why can't DCPS weed out these non-resident students and force the parents to transfer? Or pay tuition?
2:41 pm
OUT OF STATE CHILDREN ATTENDING DCPS ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN DC IS NOTHING NEW.
ONCE THEY BECOME OF AGE TO STAY AT HOME FOR A FEW HOURS WHILE PARENTS MAKE THEIR WAY BACK TO MD AND VA FROM GOOD OL' DC GOVT OR FED GOVT JOB IS WHEN THEY ARE PULLED OUT. USUALLY AROUND 7TH OR 8TH GRADE.
"So, were the stats juked, and did the wrong teachers wind up getting bonuses from the edu-philanthropy circuit that's made former Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee such a star?" CUE FOLK FROM WHITEYVILLE TO START ANTI-HENDERSON CAMPAIGN. THE FUCKED UP PART IS RHEE WAS PUSHING THE MINIMAL GAINS IN TESTING AS SOME SORT OF VICTORY AS IN GEORGE W.'S "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED"
"This is like an education Ponzi scam," says Nathan Saunders, head of the Washington Teachers' Union. "If your test scores improve, you make more money. If not, you get fired. That's incredibly dangerous." THE RHEE DOCTRINE!
3:09 pm
noodlez
I think it's very good that DCPS is testing more. That's how data will come about that enable good decisions. Obviously, cheating is bad. But this cheating appears to predate Rhee- the article states the eraser marks started in 2006. Should DCPS have caught it? Sure. But it's the administration at the school that one should be pointing the finger at.
Saunders is a joke. He can't even sign onto the notion that teachers who teach exceptionally badly should be let go, and that those who teach exceptionally well should be rewarded for it. Of course, the way he puts it is that there is no good way to measure success. So it's all arbitrary.
His type of thinking is why charters keep gaining at the expense of DCPS and why less than 30% of his union bothers to vote on anything.
4:11 pm
Drez, did the article really say that?
But way to make it about Saunders when faulty test scores is the subject.
According to USA Today, in 2006 student's proficient test scores were @10%. Two years later, they were @58%.
So although Rhee was not chancellor in 2006, the investigation covers her entire tenure. She has to take the good and the bad.
Also, can you please post the link to where Saunders posits that bad teachers should stay and good teachers should receive no reward?
But again, why to turn a story about possible cheating in DCPS into a diatribe against the Unions. How convenient and expected.
4:29 pm
SEis4ME
did the article really say what?
Let me flip it on you- Please let me know of any case you can think of where Saunders hasn't objected to specific performance metrics (without which there would be no data) or teacher firings.
Fortunately, the union tends to loose in court.
5:34 pm
Wait, I asked you to post the link backing up your assertion that he is for bad teachers and against incentives for new ones.
In response, you ask me to find a link to something else?
Truly Amazing you are. Truly Amazing.
In short, you lied. Saunders never said it. And now you want me to join in on disproving your lies.
Liar you are. Liar indeed.
5:48 pm
rez-HER SYSTEMATIC FAILURE AS A LEADER, AN EDUCATOR AND HER FAKE ASS POSTION AS SOME EDUCATION GURU IS RISING LIKE A PIMPLE ON HER FLAT ASS AND WILL SOON BE NOTICED NO MATTER WHAT SHE SAYS OR DOES.
THE SOONER YOU CAN COME TO GRIPS WITH THIS THE BETTER OFF YOU WILL BE MY COMMENTING ADVERSARY! THE SHIT SHE DID COULD HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY ANYONE AND AT A MUCH CHEAPER PRICE. SHE SET DCPS BACK AT LEAST A YEAR WITH HER HAWKISH BULLSHIT. YOU DONT EXTEND AN OLIVE BRANCH THEN CUT OFF FOLKS ARMS AS THEY REACHING FOR IT.
FOLKS WILL START TO CUT TIES WITH THIS "SULAIMON BROWN LITE" CHARACTER THAT SHE IS. HOPEFULLY SOONER THAN LATER.
7:40 pm
It's funny that the crooked WTU hasn't said word one on this scandal!
7:52 pm
SEis4ME
WTU has a 40+ year record of suckage. Calling me a liar does nothing to take away from that But as for me being a liar, not so.
I wrote " the way he puts it is that there is no good way to measure success. "
I never said those were his exact words, but that is an accurate summation of his position. He's against testing or performance metrics for union members. That's been his consistent position. He objects to progressive ideas, but doesn't put forth his own progressive proposal.
You are ridiculous.
8:13 pm
noodlez
Who are you talking about, Rhee or Henderson?
And what is the difference?
I like them both so far, by the way.
10:11 pm
I like Henderson. I didn't like Rhee.
That being said, I don't fault either of them for some of this. The cheating has happened when student scores were tied to teacher evaluations. [There was a whole chapter about it happening in Chicago in the book Freakonomics].
What I do fault Rhee with is the response by the school system when Debra Gist raised questions. Focusing the review on process instead of the data was stupid.
I will fault Henderson if there are questions about the next round of testing, which will start soon, and she handles it in the same crappy way that Rhee did.
10:28 pm
RHEE!
TELL HER WE NEED OUR MONEY BACK SO WE CAN SET UP SOME SCHOLORSHIPS FOR STUDENTS.
CURIOUS TO KNOW FROM ALL THE MONEY SHE REC'D HOW MUCH DID SHE GIVE BACK TO HELP THOSE THAT NEEDED AND WANTED THE HELP TO GO TO COLLEGE?
11:43 pm
OMG. Is this about charity?
I can see it now: Rhee, Fenty, Kwame, Vince. All sitting around a table- playing poker.
Fenty: I'm in for a Colnago. Signed by Ernesto himself.
Kwame: uh. I'll see your bike and raise you a Navigator. Black with gray trim.
Vince: I'm in for a custom iron fence. Call.
Rhee: screw you all. I'm outa here!
9:40 am
Drez, BS. Pure, unadulterated BS.
The WTU isn't even mentioned in this article. The WTU isn't mentioned in the investigation. Yet, you bring them up to make what point? Not to refute the facts of the article but just to..well..do what you usually do. Their 40-yr history is irrelevant to this story. Absolutely, positively, irdamnrelevant.
You were called a liar because you interjected misinformation into this discussion and when confronted about it, you turn the tables and make it about something else.
No DREZ, this is about you and your propensity to lie.
You can't back up the claim that Saunders cares more about bad teachers than rewarding good ones.
You can't back up the claim that this cheating "predates" Rhee.
So you go w/what you know. Deflection.
Fine, deflect on but a liar you are.
And where's that link showing Saunders consistent position against performance metrics and testing?
9:46 am
LOL- why wouldn't you blame Rhee for this? Read the article. She took great pride in making this school the shinning example of her efforts. The entire staff was awarded a $1.5 million bonus because of this. That's one hell of an incentive to "win".
Drez- I'm always baffled by you. I should know better now, but it really does surprise me sometimes. There is no real reason to offer explanations as to why this doesn't matter or is someone's fault other than Rhee's. Hell, she's even avoided attempting to explain anything. So, why would you even bother. The stats on the likelihood of this not being the mere efforts of attentive teachers, is astronomical. And no amount of ignoring the issue will make it go away.
The sad thing is these kids were pushed along under the assumption that they were ready for a more advanced level of learning. They've been set-up to fail. Any thoughts on this? I know what you'll say. Blame Gray, Saunders, anyone else, but not Rhee and certainly not Fenty. You douche.
9:50 am
Drez- as for your poker analogy, here's how it really goes down:
Fenty: I will raise all of my Green Chips, every last one of them... and all of yours as well... on Rhee's hand.
Gray: Adrian, it doesn't work like that, but I'll see you bet and re-raise you all of my blue chips.
Kwame: Domino muddafukka.
Rhee: I fold. I was bluffing all along.
9:51 am
NO IT'S NOT. THOUGH YOUR SCEANARIO WAS ON POINT AND FUNNY. THE TRAIL SHE LEFT BEHIND ISNT!!!
THIS IS REALLY ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND ACCOUNTING. THAT FLAT ASS HO MADE OUT WITH MONEY SHE SHOULDNT HAVE REC'D. LET ALONE DOLED OUT SOME CHANGE TO FOLKS WHO FOLLOWED HER ILL ADVISED LOCK STEP.
THAT SHIT AT NOYES DONT PASS THE EYE TEST. I'VE BEEN OUT OF HIGH SCHOOOL 26 YEARS AND STILL REMEMBER WHAT I WAS TAUGHT AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TO STUDY FOR A DAMN TEST THAT ONLY BENEFITED THE TEACHER AND HER CLASS.
I'M SURE THE YOUNG LADY'S STORY ISNT A SINGLE EVENT. THE REST OF THE PARENTS EITHER WAS TO DAMN HAPPY TO REALIZE, UNDERSTAND OR DONT CARE WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.
NOW WE ARE OUT THOUSANDS OF TEACHABLE HOURS, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WITH NO TRUE EDUCATION.
WE KNOW WHERE THE BLACK ON BLACK NAVI IS. WE KNOW WHERE THE FENCE IS. WE KNOW WHERE RHEE IS (WITH ALL OUR MONEY). SO WHERE IS THE COLNAGO?
11:04 am
noodlez
SO WHERE IS THE COLNAGO?
I hope on some bike stand on display somewhere.
That thing is ART!
Seriously now.
It was a gift from a private Italian who had no business in front of DC to a fellow pisan. Gifts from arms-length private individuals are allowed under dc ethics rules, and there's no alleged quid pro quo, so there's no conflict of interest.
Admit it. You're just jealous that you don't have some scrap of Doug Williams' jersey or some moldy old ball signed by Thiesmann.
Me? I just don't see why I should give a damn either way. ;)
11:08 am
ABM
I'm a statistics buff. If what's reported in USA Today is accurate, it's a damning report. Damning in much the same way that Harriet Waters was to Nat Ghandi. So, yeah, it needs follow up.
What I will 100% reject is the opportunistic use of this event to undermine what I absolutely and firmly believe is the very good use of tests in measuring student, teacher, and school performance. And that, my bent friend, is what the powers that be will do. And I won't put up with it for a second.
11:11 am
SEis4ME
You really are hopeless.
2:15 pm
Drez-YOU ARE JUST TRYING TO BE FUNNY AGAIN ABOUT THAT BIKE STAND SHIT. THAT MICKY BLICK SITTIN IN HIS HOUSE OR AT LEAST IS AT HIS DISPOSAL.
I BELIEVE HE GAVE IT TO BIKE CHEEKS DUE IN LARGE TO BRINGING CYCLING EVENT TO DC. DO BELIEVE IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO ACCEPT GIFTS OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT (WILL RESEARCH AND GET BACK TO YA).
CHAMP, I HOLD ON TO MEMORIES NOT TANGIBLE WORTHLESS MAN-MADE SHIT.
2:57 pm
Drez- you are a fucking moron my friend. So concerns about the credibility of test scores don't bother you as much, because questioning the results undermines progress in your eyes. Seriously? You'd that bought-into Rhee's agenda? The woman's a fucking opportunistic fuck who never really cared about this City or about the children here. If she had really cared, she would have taken a deeper look as to why such an under-performing school miraculously changed into a pretty good school overnight. What changes were made and how could it be replicated in other schools. You know, studying the basic traits of a successful endeavor and reproducing it. However, she didn't. Now she's blaming criticism of these very questionable gains as some sort of conspiracy by enemies of school reform. Name me one fucking person who is against changing schools from under-performing to well-performing. Just one please.
4:58 pm
Adrian, I'm sure Drez can provide just one.
Nathan Saunders.
Then he'll add the teachers unions.
Then he'll add Marion Barry.
Then Ward 8.
Then Ward 7.
Then Gray.
Then, Marvin Gaye.
12:13 am
All:
I'm reminded of a song from my youth.
"Time, it's on my side. Yes it is".