July 15, 2011

The Bad Law Made Me Do It

A massive systemic school cheating scandal was uncovered last week in Atlanta that involved over 4 dozen schools. Nearly 175 teachers and administrators gave students answers and even changed wrong ones so they would pass state tests.

Atlanta Mayor called it “a dark day” for Atlanta. But there’s been a dozen other scandals like it around the country. Who’s to blame?

According to Time’s, Kayla Webley the pressure teachers feel from the standards of No Child Left Behind is tempting them to cheat. Of course, but we’re always tempted to cheat. Is that a reason to actually do it? Are we just victims of temptation?

C.S. Lewis warned in Abolition of Man that if education only filled heads with facts and bellies with self-esteem but didn’t train the chest in moral courage, we would produce “men without chests.” People who can’t do the right thing. Decades later, those students are now teachers. What an opportunity for Christians to make a difference.

Further Reading:

Investigation Finds Widespread' Cheating in Atlanta Schools
Kayla Webley | Time | July 6, 2011

The Abolition of Man
C. S. Lewis | The Augustine Club at Columbia University, March 2002

Doing the Right Thing
Chuck Colson, et al. | Zondervan, 2011

• Posted at 10:15 am by John Stonestreet
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