Blog 2: How being on top can effect our morals.

    Clarence Mumford Sr, last year, was indicted for cheating and helping teachers cheat on very important test such as the Praxis. In all he was indicted on 63 counts of fraud, including mail, wire, and social security.  The government originally offered him a nine to eleven year sentence, he however thought that was an unfair offer. Mr. Mumford thought that he deserved something less saying, “I have not killed anybody; I started this whole thing out trying to help someone. It evolved, well, let’s face it, into a moonlighting opportunity to make a little supplemental income.” He even tried to bring his age and health into the situation. He is 59 years old and has diabetes and high blood pressure. Everyone was surprised that he didn’t take the deal. Mr. Mumford and his attorney’s strategy is to make the court prove everything that has been said and charged.
    I realize that this, by itself, is not a social issue. But, it is related to something that is. The issue is that have the highest grade average is so important that we will go to any means necessary to see that we are on top. Even if it means going against everything that we were ever taught in school. Yes, education is important. It will always be. But, it’s the education itself that is important, not the being smarter then everyone else. If you are going to cheat to help someone else be the “best”, then they are not really the best. Education is important and should be treated as such. I believe that he should be in a lot of trouble. If students today see that someone of his stature and upmostness is cheating and help TEACHERS cheat, what does that tell them? They need to know that they only good education is the one that they did all by themselves. Hard work does by off, and they need to know that if you break the rules then you have to pay for those mistakes.

 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/26/education/in-surprise-educator-rejects-plea-deal-over-test-cheating-ring.html?ref=education
In Surprise, Educator Tied to Cheating Rejects Deal

Ashley Burkhart
1/31/13
9:04 PM