Montana Teachers in Trouble with Columbus U. Master's Degrees

Billings Gazette

"During Thursday's hearing, both teachers acknowledged they did no course work, did not correspond with any instructors, took no exams and wrote no thesis papers. They paid less than $3,000 for their degrees and were required only to compile transcripts from previous college courses and workshops and provide information on classroom practices. The process, they said, is called "credentialization." Both teachers were able to receive master's degrees in less than six months. "

No, the process is called "diploma milling." Please read the article; it's great.

Longtime readers will remember that it was from Columbus that a certain Deputy Undersecretary of Defense claimed his master's. Still does, in fact, and it can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/bios/abell_bio.html

This information, the basis for a Good Morning America report, hasn't seemed to faze either Mr. Abell or the government. Why should it? He fits right in.

 

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?tl=1&display=rednews/2006/01/06/build/local/25-degrees.inc

One has to wonder what the teachers who play by the rules think of having their union dues spent in support of these frauds.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I detect a hint of 'glee' in your posting.

 

There's enough glee around here that we could probably form a club. For some, however, that might seem a sour note.

Jack

 

owooooo!

Glee, h*ll, a basso profundo GLOAT is music to my ears!

 

The article is great news!

I am afraid however that the punishment will end up much less severe then is let on in the article.

 

This is a great article. Columbus U should feature this on their website.

 

I propose a public buggy whipping for each teacher by their students, followed by a formal tar & feathering and riding out of town on a rail by the local school board and PTA....

 

WHAT were those teachers THINKING?

 

That's what is missing in todays society! Public buggy whipping and tar and feathering. When was the last time you heard of someone getting tarred and feathered?

 

With all the great modern cleaning agents available these days, I don't think that tar and feathering now would be nearly as bad of a punishment as in the old days.

 

Tar comes off quite easily by washing in gasoline.
(no joke)
Jack

 

My wife is a teacher and I am not surprised one bit that the superintendent and board approved this. They have to submit a course description and the university name and it gets rubber stamped. Be interesting to see who the arbitrator finds at fault for this.

"They said the former Canyon Creek superintendent in 1998 approved their plans for Columbus University, and the board, after they received their diplomas, approved the pay increase. Trustees then on the board testified Tuesday they had no reason to suspect the teachers' diplomas might not be legitimate"

 

Is there anywhere in the current educational system where one learns to tell the difference between an accredited degree and an degree mill? IF NOT, WHY NOT?

 

Great question. I don't know who would have a vested interest in teaching it.

A local school here shows up as a "corporate sponsor" in Kennedy Westerns literature. I wonder how many teachers from there will eventually be found out.

 

You would be amazed at how many people at NAFSA conferences don't know what a diploma mill is.

 

It used to amaze me a few years back when Kennedy Western was the major sponsor for the Wyoming Teacher of the Year program.

Ted N.