Answerism Alive and Well in Atlanta

A growing "scandal" over alleged "corruption" in the "Atlanta" public school system, in which teachers and school administrators allegedly helped students "cheat" on standardized "tests," is a chilling reminder of the most insidious form of discrimination afflecting our education system today.

I am talking about the endemic scourge of Answerism.

Like its evil cousin -isms -- Racism, Sexism, Fascism, and Teaism -- Answerism discriminates and divides, segregating students into arbitrary classes of "rights" and "wrongs." Inflicted through an insidious system of standardized, one-correct-answer tests, is nothing less than blatant discrimination against the "wrongs" while granting privileged grade status to the "rights."

What these brave students, teachers, and administrators did in "cheating" on these tests was not "immoral" or "deceitful" or "borderline criminal." It was an act of civil disobedience against an unjust and discriminatory system that violates the very principles of free speech we hold dear.

How fitting it is that in Atlanta, the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the crusader for civil rights who fought against endemic Racism in American society, these teachers and administrators are standing up for student rights and fighting endemic Answerism in American scholarity.

I salute you, unjustly accused teachers and administrators of Atlanta! Let academic freedom ring!

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