Teachers in Georgia Got Raises for Fake Degrees

Fox News ^ | 3/24/04 | AP

[Clintons Are White Trash]

Teachers in Georgia Got Raises for Fake Degrees

Wednesday, March 24, 2004

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — A county school board may demand that six teachers repay nearly $30,000 in pay raises they received after obtaining fake degrees from an online school in Liberia (search).



St. Regis University (search), which claims to be recognized by the Liberian government, grants master's degrees and doctorates based on "life experience." A master's degree costs $995 and a doctorate costs $1,500.

The six Gwinnett County (search) teachers were among 11 in the state found to have degrees from St. Regis. The Gwinnett teachers received $29,702 in additional pay for the advanced degrees.

Several school board members have accused the teachers of fleecing the system, and some suggested the teachers should lose their jobs.

"Teachers get paid based on their years of experience and the type of degrees they've earned," Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks said. "So if they've been paid on those degrees, that is going to have to be paid back."

A spokesman for the state Professional Standards Commission, which approved the six teachers' degrees last year, said it would no longer accept credits from St. Regis.

The state is investigating.

[george wythe]

A county school board may demand that six teachers repay nearly $30,000 in pay raises they received after obtaining fake degrees from an online school in Liberia (search).

St. Regis University (search), which claims to be recognized by the Liberian government, grants master's degrees and doctorates based on "life experience." A master's degree costs $995 and a doctorate costs $1,500.

As long as people keep fall for those spam e-mails, more spam will show up at our inboxes.

[EggsAckley]

Heheheh. Payback's a b!t@h!

[international american]

This is too good to even make a joke about it:)

ROTFLMAO!!

[international american]

Lemme have 2 doctorates for 2500!! E bay??

[jigsaw]

...the state Professional Standards Commission, which approved the six teachers' degrees last year...

That must be one dang impressive commission! Probably made up of former teachers.

[Clintons Are White Trash]

Oh, by the way, make that Dr. Clintons Are White Trash. I done got me a new degree!

[mtbopfuyn]

A spokesman for the state Professional Standards Commission, which approved the six teachers' degrees last year, said it would no longer accept credits from St. Regis.

Hmm, the degrees were approved last year so any money they received until it's in writing that St. R. degrees will no longer be accepted shouldn't have to be paid back. Getting a fake degree may be morally wrong but buy-a-degree is becoming big business for a reason. Too many times a person is paid for a piece of paper he holds but not for his abilities. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for my doctor getting an excellent education and the skills needed for the job but it makes no sense to pay for a piece of paper that has no relation to the job. If teachers can pass a teacher test and can pass that knowledge on to her students and they pass their standardized tests then a piece of paper shouldn't earn her more pay - did I really say that?

[MIchaelTArchangel]

There is a word for what these "teachers" did. That word is FRAUD!

[Clintons Are White Trash]

I can't believe they would even consider keeping them on staff. There is no difference between this and lying on a resume.

[whattajoke]

Ping to some GA teachers we've probably discussed tangentially in the past.

[ladylib]

Half the teachers in Philadelphia can't pass a test they need to continue teaching.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/living/education/8260219.htm?1c

[PatrickHenry]

Interesting, but I don't think I'm going to ping to the whole list, even if Georgia is flirting with teaching creationism in the schools. Keep me advised if things heat up, and I may change my mind.

[boris]

My employer had everyone fill out a "skills index" listing degrees etc. The electronic form said you had to provide proof of degree(s). So I brought in my diplomas.

"Why are you showing this to me?" asked my boss.

"Form said to."

"You're the only person in my (40+ person) group who's done so."

"You mean I could have given myself a PhD?"

Darn.

--Boris

[wingnutx]

The navy just sent out a letter warning people that they will not get any credit for these fake degrees.

I guess a bunch of our less astute squidlies have been falling for it lately.

[Hibernius Druid]

Even the real "teaching" degrees are fake.

[In_25_words_or_less]

St. Regis University (search), which claims to be recognized by the Liberian government, grants master's degrees and doctorates based on "life experience."

I have an M.A. from St Regis in biting through potato chip bags to start and then having them tear and dump in my lap.

[PrincessB]

For a secondary ed degree, I can agree with you. For elementary, early childhood, and special ed. I can't. In a good program "imparting knowledge" is a small part of the instruction. There are evaluation methods for resources and teaching methods in place that are effective (It is why you see teachers eventually adopt phonics and other proven methods that weren't taught in college).

Teaching methods for special education have changed and are changing as more is discovered about specific disabilities. These teachers need to know how to evaluate research and separate fact from fad.

There is coursework in degrees that cover this.

Even a homeschooling parent has to come up with methods, adaptations, and evaluation.

[victoryatallcosts]

If the State Board approved them, I see no reason why they ought to be expected to pay back any money. State boards ought to know enought to be suspicious if six people are turn in degrees from the same LIBERIAN university.