We Send Teachers to Prison for Rigging the Numbers, Why Not Bankers?

[Nbadan]

Bill Black: We Send Teachers to Prison for Rigging the Numbers, Why Not Bankers?

By Bill Black, the author of The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Own One and an associate professor of economics and law at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Jointly published with New Economic Perspectives

The New York Times ran the story on April Fools’ Day of a jury convicting educators of gaming the test numbers and lying about their actions to investigators.


ATLANTA — In a dramatic conclusion to what has been described as the largest cheating scandal in the nation’s history, a jury here on Wednesday convicted 11 educators for their roles in a standardized test cheating scandal that tarnished a major school district’s reputation and raised broader questions about the role of high-stakes testing in American schools.

On their eighth day of deliberations, the jurors convicted 11 of the 12 defendants of racketeering, a felony that carries up to 20 years in prison. Many of the defendants — a mixture of Atlanta public school teachers, testing coordinators and administrators — were also convicted of other charges, such as making false statements, that could add years to their sentences.


This was complicated trial that took six months to present and required eight days of jury deliberations. It was a major commitment of investigative and prosecutorial resources. But it was not investigated and prosecuted by the FBI and AUSAs, but by state and local officials. In addition to the trial success, the prosecutors secured 21 guilty pleas.

Atlanta’s public schools, of course, did not engage in “the largest cheating scandal in the nation’s history.” The big banks’ cheating scandals left the Atlanta educators in the dust.

The two obvious questions are why the educators cheated and how they got caught. “High-stakes testing” cannot explain the scandal because we have had such tests for over 50 years. The article explains the real drivers – compensation, promotions, fear, and ego (aka “reputation”). .................(more)

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2015/04/bill-black-send-teachers-prison-rigging-numbers-not-bankers.html

Those evil teachers cheating our kids out of a good education by cheating the high-test taking stakes....but bankerscheating the system....nothing to see here folks, move along..

[Nbadan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqpqxLg6-IU


Cenk Uygur (http://www.twitter.com/cenkuygur) host of The Young Turks discusses a new afterward about JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon added to 'A Fighting Chance', the book by Senator Elizabeth Warren.

Massachusetts Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren has made it her mission in life to be a thorn in the side of the financial elite of Wall Street. An upcoming new afterward added to her book A Fighting Chance reveals how much JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon really doesn't give a fuck. When hard pressed with questions of day to day operations within the financial juggernaut Dimon helmed their voices began to grow louder until finally the man smugly dared Warren to slap the bank with a fine as they could afford it."

Read more here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/31/elizabeth-warren-jamie-dimon_n_6972182.html

[pgardn]

To answer the question...

Money, Lawyers, and purposeful confusion in order to make clean cases muddy.
The teachers case is sooo easy.

[boutons_deux]

To answer the question...

Money, Lawyers, and purposeful confusion in order to make clean cases muddy.
The teachers case is sooo easy.

It looks like all of them criminals were BLACK, in Confederate Georgia. nah, just a coincidence.

[Nbadan]

Of course, Hall’s “approach to education” did not “emphasize data” – it emphasized faux data – like Citi’s accounting alchemists under Robert Rubin who transmuted fraudulent net liabilities (liar’s loans) into supposedly wondrously valuable assets that had zero risk (Super Senior CDO tranches).

A more general point is in order. Atlanta is the culmination of destructive national trends and failing to mention Houston in the story was unfortunate. First, the “reinventing government” movement decided the public sector was bad and the private sector was magnificent and said that the public sector should adopt private sector approaches including quite specifically “performance pay” based on quantitative measures. This brought to the public sector the perverse incentives that were ruining the private sector and about to bring on Enron-era fraud epidemic and then the most recent three fraud epidemics. Second, we were assured by proponents of the change that a concern for “reputation” would trump any perverse incentives. What the proponents failed to see, of course, was that in both the private and public sectors the way to create a superb reputation was to report inflated data. Reputation, instead of the “trump” ensuring good conduct, was a leading motive to engage in bad conduct. Third, we were told that giving public administrators far more power to squash teachers was the key to success in education. Lord Acton warned that absolute power leads to absolute corruption whether in Atlanta or Citi’s C-suite.

Houston should have been mentioned because the modern movement toward educational fraud began in Houston under Rod Paige – who became Secretary of Education based on massive fraudulent misrepresentation of data. Paige kicked off the testing insanity, claiming it would produce objective, fact-based policies based on what educational measures actually worked. As a famous takedown of Paige’s claims ends – the lesson is that it was too good to be true. President Bush, however, bought it hook, line, sinker, bobber, rod, and the boat Paige rowed out in.

In any event, if Fulton County, Georgia can jail educators who lie and gimmick the data, Holder can send the elite bankers to prison on the same grounds.

http://neweconomicperspectives.org/2015/04/we-send-teachers-to-prison-for-rigging-the-numbers-why-not-bankers.html

[pgardn]

It looks like all of them criminals were BLACK, in Confederate Georgia. nah, just a coincidence.

Black schools in the Deep South are most likely have scores that need to be fixed as well.

[Nbadan]

Black schools in the Deep South are most likely have scores that need to be fixed as well.

Or....an educational system that needs to be fixed....

Funny how the kids who need it most wind up with the worst teachers, the worst campuses and the worst scores.....

Coincidink? I think so...

[Trill Clinton]

the punishment was way too excessive. just fire them and make them pay the money back. so we send 11 school teachers to prison for anywhere from 5-40 years for this? man i hope none of them get raped behind this shit.

the measuring sticks these schools have to achieve to get funding is ridiculous. i'm willing to bet the school district these teachers came from have some of the worst facilities in the state too.

[pgardn]

Or....an educational system that needs to be fixed....

Funny how the kids who need it most wind up with the worst teachers, the worst campuses and the worst scores.....

Coincidink? I think so...

The education in an area is a reflection of the socioeconomics of said area.
There are some fantastic public schools in the US. It's deeper than just fixing a system that works really well in areas where the parents claim a direct stake in the education of their children.

[TDMVPDPOY]

riggin numbers...is all about attracting govt funding in the next budget

[Winehole23]

Iceland did it:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/02/13/uk-iceland-bankers-idUKKBN0LH0OC20150213

[boutons_deux]

Iceland did it:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/02/13/uk-iceland-bankers-idUKKBN0LH0OC20150213

Iceland is a social democracy, with strong emphasis on both words of the phrase. America isn't and can't be.

[SupremeGuy]

Because racism, obviously. :cry

[boutons_deux]

Because racism, obviously. :cry

I have no doubt that Iceland's highly homogeneous population facilitates solidarity, socialism, and "we're all on this volcano together".

With 325K population, they aren't isolated, disaffeted from their national government.

How many Texans feel in close contact with, influence over what's happening in Austin, or any Americans feel in close contact with, influence over what's happening in DC?

[pgardn]

Iceland is a social democracy, with strong emphasis on both words of the phrase. America isn't and can't be.

You mean Iceland's economy is much more intimately tied to banking than ours.
It brought them to their knees, really. Much worse than what happened here.
So of course they consider it as a grave criminal act.

[Winehole23]

Iceland is a social democracy, with strong emphasis on both words of the phrase. America isn't and can't be.too facile by half. what explains bank receivership and the 1000+ felony prosecutions during the S&L crisis in the 1990s? presumably we weren't a social democracy then either.

[boutons_deux]

You mean Iceland's economy is much more intimately tied to banking than ours.


... more evidence you're full of shit.

The US financial system CONTROLS the USA, stole, steals $100Bs, Ms of homes, businesses through fraudulent mortgages, fraudulent foreclosures, broken chain of title, LIBOR fixing, exploding municipal loans, etc, etc.

[DMC]

The OP seems to be employing a tu quoque fallacy. Both are wrong, one was prosecuted and one wasn't. Trying to diminish the crimes of one doesn't elevate the crimes of the other.

[angrydude]

The real reason is because the banksters give the investigators lucrative jobs after they leave the government.

[Nbadan]

The education in an area is a reflection of the socioeconomics of said area.
There are some fantastic public schools in the US. It's deeper than just fixing a system that works really well in areas where the parents claim a direct stake in the education of their children.

How do districts who have parents that don't care make them care? Keep in mind that a lot of the parents are low or un-employed and are living at bare subsistence level, or wore yet, grandparents raising their grandchildren because mom and dad were deemed unfit....

[m>s]

I have no doubt that Iceland's highly homogeneous population facilitates solidarity, socialism, and "we're all on this volcano together".
That's a great argument for national socialism

[Nbadan]

The OP seems to be employing a tu quoque fallacy. Both are wrong, one was prosecuted and one wasn't. Trying to diminish the crimes of one doesn't elevate the crimes of the other.

Not trying to diminish anything....the educators were cheating the system, they got caught, but racketeering? 20 years in prison? really? That's less than child rapists...

Plus, nobody has taken this thread the high stakes testing direction of the original OP..........high stakes testing is prime for rigging, it was build on the frame work of a rigged system....

[DMC]

Not trying to diminish anything....the educators were cheating the system, they got caught, but racketeering? 20 years in prison? really? That's less than child rapists...

Or Hitler...

"Those evil teachers cheating our kids out of a good education by cheating the high-test taking stakes" I think this pretty much says you are diminishing their crimes.


Plus, nobody has taken this thread the high stakes testing direction of the original OP..........high stakes testing is prime for rigging, it was build on the frame work of a rigged system....
The two things aren't even related. Bankers getting away with what amounts to a crime has absolutely nothing to do with teachers not getting away with it. The comparison is based on a fallacy.

[pgardn]

... more evidence you're full of shit.

The US financial system CONTROLS the USA, stole, steals $100Bs, Ms of homes, businesses through fraudulent mortgages, fraudulent foreclosures, broken chain of title, LIBOR fixing, exploding municipal loans, etc, etc.

Who controls the U.S. financial system you Fckn fruitcake?

[pgardn]

How do districts who have parents that don't care make them care? Keep in mind that a lot of the parents are low or un-employed and are living at bare subsistence level, or wore yet, grandparents raising their grandchildren because mom and dad were deemed unfit....

You have hit the million dollar question.

How do people who have never reaped the benifits of a proper education suddenly explain to their kids that education is valuable when it has done nothing for them? Ask Boutons how we produce a strong educated middle class. He will of course tell you it's entirely a Republican plot to create wealth inequality thus educational opportunity inequalities. I don't personally believe this is the goal of the republican party even though I probably have more in common with the Democratic Party.

I refuse clean generalizations that make the world so clear and understandable to Rev. John Hagee and his partner, the Great Boots. These are your black and white men, everything is easy, evil and good easily discernible... The solution to problems created by their villains obvious and simplistic.

[boutons_deux]

Who controls the U.S. financial system you Fckn fruitcake?

WTF? it's the prime controller, there's nobody else above or behind it

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Who controls the U.S. financial system you Fckn fruitcake?

Between the boards of directors of big conglomerates and regional players you have maybe a few thousand people. Probably not even that. It's also very top heavy so the vast majority of holdings are held by maybe a dozen boards. With that group you have what a couple hundred people?

Mining/oil is much more diverse due to the nature of oil production but it is similarly top heavy with the top guys.

I don't think it unreasonable to be paranoid about dark money but his rants takes on the air of a paranoid, old woman invoking old ghosts. He is an old fag after all.

The goal of the GOP is the same as it has always been: get its interests representatives elected. There is no greater entity in the world in electioneering and only the Kremlins TV stations surpasses the GOP's Fox News in breadth of propaganda. It would be admirable if I didn't value democracy.

[pgardn]

I do not believe the goal of the Republican Party is to create economic inequality.

I do not believe the goal of the Democratic Party is to redistribute wealth based on meritless parasitism.


I do believe the hacks in both parties want US citizens to believe this.

[baseline bum]

I do not believe the goal of the Republican Party is to create economic inequality.


I believe that is the goal of the Republican party. I also believe it is the goal of the Democratic party. Each party just throws table scraps to different groups.

[pgardn]

I believe that is the goal of the Republican party. I also believe it is the goal of the Democratic party. Each party just throws table scraps to different groups.

If you are correct,
This is not the place to be living imo.
If I really believed what you believe, I would definitely move.

[boutons_deux]

I do not believe the goal of the Republican Party is to create economic inequality.

I do not believe the goal of the Democratic Party is to redistribute wealth based on meritless parasitism.



you continue to demonstrate you're totally full of bullshit

[baseline bum]

If you are correct,
This is not the place to be living imo.
If I really believed what you believe, I would definitely move.

You don't believe that's the goal of the people who fund these parties? And that these parties don't follow the money?

[pgardn]

You don't believe that's the goal of the people who fund these parties? And that these parties don't follow the money?

I believe that both parties as a whole believe their way will produce a more functional US. I'm not going to confuse the goal of getting into office with governing. Both parties have an arm to raise funds. I do not believe raising funds is the ultimate goal of the parties. If I did, I would leave.

[pgardn]

you continue to demonstrate you're totally full of bullshit

Then correct the above you worthless piece of shit.

As usual you are a destroyer. You have no clue how to produce, build, create anything because you have never experienced the satisfaction personally. You are a nihilistic complainer that blames others for your lot in life. You have no clue how to work within a system to create changes you believe in. You are comfortable as the perpetual vindictive pessimistic vi ctim.

I hope I'm wrong. About you.

[boutons_deux]

Then correct the above you worthless piece of shit.

As usual you are a destroyer. You have no clue how to produce, build, create anything because you have never experienced the satisfaction personally. You are a nihilistic complainer that blames others for your lot in life. You have no clue how to work within a system to create changes you believe in. You are comfortable as the perpetual vindictive pessimistic vi ctim.

I hope I'm wrong. About you.

you continue to demonstrate you're totally full of bullshit

[pgardn]

you continue to demonstrate you're totally full of bullshit



Yes.

As a general rule I like and get along with people.
I have to, it's required in what I do.

What the hell are you? And why have you not offed yourself considering your outlook on almost any subject?

[baseline bum]

I believe that both parties as a whole believe their way will produce a more functional US. I'm not going to confuse the goal of getting into office with governing. Both parties have an arm to raise funds. I do not believe raising funds is the ultimate goal of the parties. If I did, I would leave.

I won't leave. There are lots of things I like about the US.

[TeyshaBlue]

you continue to demonstrate you're totally full of bullshit



100 % Daily allowance of Vitamin I.

Thanks nutbar!

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I believe that both parties as a whole believe their way will produce a more functional US. I'm not going to confuse the goal of getting into office with governing. Both parties have an arm to raise funds. I do not believe raising funds is the ultimate goal of the parties. If I did, I would leave.

Might want to star packing your bags. One of Priebus' initiatives has been to control more of the money so as to control the message. Money = power due to citizens united and you cannot just separate the two notions.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

you continue to demonstrate you're totally full of bullshit



Maybe to you but I find what he says to be apt. You really are an old nihilist fag. Jaded.

[m>s]

I have no doubt that Iceland's highly homogeneous population facilitates solidarity, socialism, and "we're all on this volcano together".

With 325K population, they aren't isolated, disaffeted from their national government.

How many Texans feel in close contact with, influence over what's happening in Austin, or any Americans feel in close contact with, influence over what's happening in DC?


That's a great argument for national socialism
I noticed you ran away from this. Thanks for testifying that national socialism works.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

How does one run away from a poorly articulated assertion?

Those are supposed to be ignored until the argument actually gets some legs. 'Everything is better with Nazi' is not an argument.

[m>s]

He said that Iceland's highly homogeneous population facilitates solidarity, socialism, and "we're all on this volcano together" mentality. And I totally agree. I'd just like to know what he thinks about supporting national socialist ideology and why he doesn't want countries to practice it if it would lead to their prosperity.

whoever said he's a destroyer is right. He knows the truth but doesn't want to see it implemented out of jealousy. He doesn't think his people are capable so he wants all other peoples pulled down to the same level.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

He said that Iceland's highly homogeneous population facilitates solidarity, socialism, and "we're all on this volcano together" mentality. And I totally agree. I'd just like to know what he thinks about aupporting national socialist ideology and why he doesn't want countries to practice it if it would lead to their prosperity.

Loaded question nice. Why don't you stop trying to fuck family members or inbreeding in general?

[m>s]

It's not loaded, it's all his own admission, I'm only asking how he deals with the cognitive dissonance.

[m>s]

Loaded question nice. Why don't you stop trying to fuck family members or inbreeding in general?
Nice ad hominem cuck

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Nice ad hominem cuck

It was a question in the same vein as yours. Instead of loading it up with aggrandizing assertions, I loaded it with base insults.

While it might be insulting it also demonstrates the absurdity of the loaded question. An ad hominem only seeks to discredit but my statement provides so much more.

[pgardn]

Might want to star packing your bags. One of Priebus' initiatives has been to control more of the money so as to control the message. Money = power due to citizens united and you cannot just separate the two notions.

There are people in this country who still believe in public service. I see them at the local level. Ie school boards. There are still people at the city and StAte level who take less money doing a great job as public servants. I am not nearly as acquainted with the federal folks, but I'm sure they are around. I don't think everyone in public service is consumed with the need for power trips. I believe there are people who take federal jobs because they feel they are contributing.

And finally, I believe that the public monitoring of public officials via the press is still strong and working. Of course there are going to be outlets that are arms of political parties, but the info is out there and diligently made available. This site is a microscopic example of the distribution of information with a critical eye. And we of course have the noted folks with agendas and blind bias.

As a side note: digging has produced a major institutional failure brought to light through the misrepresentation of a rape case written by Rolling Stone magazine. This is a strength of this country I believe. Stuff gets to people, eventually. I just hope people keep caring and attempting to accept truths that don't necessarily fit their worldview.

[z0sa]

Why do some people who post (pieces of) articles bold certain sentences/paragraphs instead of just quoting those pieces they think are important? The people who do this the most strike me as a full on narcissists who think us little people they are attempting to 'teach' and influence are too stupid/silly to pick out the parts the narcissist thinks is most important.

[angrydude]

There are people in this country who still believe in public service. I see them at the local level. Ie school boards. There are still people at the city and StAte level who take less money doing a great job as public servants. I am not nearly as acquainted with the federal folks, but I'm sure they are around. I don't think everyone in public service is consumed with the need for power trips. I believe there are people who take federal jobs because they feel they are contributing.


Very few. From my experience, most of the people in those local positions run them like they are their little fiefdoms.

[pgardn]

Very few. From my experience, most of the people in those local positions run them like they are their little fiefdoms.

Its voluntary. It's a royal pain in the ass. And they have no connection to $ at all unless it's SAISD you are talking about. And then they end up in jail once the audits occur. What school district are you referring to?

They seriously have little to no power over day to day events. The help oversee long range planning, that is their major function.