kaorder1999
05-16-2008, 09:34 AM
Grade questions could void another SOC title
08:21 AM CDT on Friday, May 16, 2008
By BRETT SHIPP / WFAA-TV
DALLAS — The South Oak Cliff High School boys basketball team has already been forced to forfeit their 2006 state title. Now there are new questions about the team's 2005 state crown and its star athlete.
A News 8 investigation into improper grade changing has uncovered new potential problems, this time with Darrell Arthur, one of the highest profile amateur athletes in the nation. He not only helped South Oak Cliff win two state basketball championships; he just pulled down a coveted college basketball crown.
As a junior forward, Arthur was an A+ athlete on the court. But transcripts obtained by News 8 raise questions about whether he was actually making the grade in the classroom during his junior season, specifically in math.
Transcripts show Arthur received no grades at all during his fall semester. His final grade was changed to a 70 in September 2005 without an explanation.
If, in fact, Arthur had failed math that fall, he would not have been eligible to play basketball, and many of his team’s victories in that championship season might have to be forfeited, according to University Interscholastic League standards.
Similar irregularities recently uncovered by News 8 concerning fellow player Kendrake Johnigan has already led to the forfeiture of South Oak Cliff's 2006 state crown.
Former South Oak Cliff math teacher Winford Ashmore said Arthur had a history of trouble in math. He showed us his 2002 grade book for freshman math in which Arthur was making weekly failing grades: 45, 25 and 24.
Ashmore said then-principal Donald Moten, and current head basketball coach James Mays Jr., both asked him to bypass the rules and award Arthur a passing grade.
"Darrell was still failing, and was not making much of an effort in class, and was not coming to tutoring,” Ashmore said. “So at that point I ensured Moten — as well as James Mays Jr. — that Darrell Arthur was going to get an F for the six weeks."
Days later, without teacher approval, Arthur was dropped from Ashmore's class. And despite those low grades, transcripts reflect Arthur received a passing grade of 70.
In the Spring of 2003, school records show Arthur failed math again with a 64. But those records also show that in January of 2005 — two years later — Principal Moten signed off on changing that failing grade to a passing grade of 72.
The reason given for the grade change, according to records: "Teacher bubbled (the grade) incorrectly."
But district policy states: "Errors in student grades must be corrected within ten days after the grading period ends."
Principal Donald Moten is no longer with the Dallas ISD. He resigned following the News 8 — and subsequent internal DISD — investigation into grade-changing during the 2006 championship season.
District officials said Coach Mays' actions are still being examined. Ashmore said a thorough investigation will reveal the truth. "Coach Mays has full knowledge of what's going on as it relates to kids being changed out of classes," said Ashmore.
Ashmore says the grade-changing for athletes was improper, and calls into question more than just the winning of a state championship trophy.
“Since Darrell Arthur really did not pass algebra — which means he did not clear the clearing house — that also means that he really should not have been eligible for a Division I major college scholarship," Ashmore said.
Last month, Arthur helped lead the Kansas Jayhawks to the NCAA college basketball championship. He recently decided to leave college and turn pro.
So did the possible cheating by adults pay off?
Not according to Jeff Sullivan, a DISD teacher and coach who has seen our stories and believes the only one being cheated is the child.
“Taking the student out of class who is already borderline is just hurting them worse,” Sullivan said. “In the end, it makes sure that they don't have to make the work up, and then changing the grade is hurting them twice as bad."
Both Moten and Coach Mays have declined to comment for this story. DISD officials have also declined to comment, but say these allegations are being fully investigated.
What is unclear at this time is how this will be handled by the University of Kansas and the NCAA.
NCAA officials have confirmed to News 8 that if a player is ineligible, forfeiture of any or all games involving that student is a possible consequence..
E-mail bshipp@wfaa.com
08:21 AM CDT on Friday, May 16, 2008
By BRETT SHIPP / WFAA-TV
DALLAS — The South Oak Cliff High School boys basketball team has already been forced to forfeit their 2006 state title. Now there are new questions about the team's 2005 state crown and its star athlete.
A News 8 investigation into improper grade changing has uncovered new potential problems, this time with Darrell Arthur, one of the highest profile amateur athletes in the nation. He not only helped South Oak Cliff win two state basketball championships; he just pulled down a coveted college basketball crown.
As a junior forward, Arthur was an A+ athlete on the court. But transcripts obtained by News 8 raise questions about whether he was actually making the grade in the classroom during his junior season, specifically in math.
Transcripts show Arthur received no grades at all during his fall semester. His final grade was changed to a 70 in September 2005 without an explanation.
If, in fact, Arthur had failed math that fall, he would not have been eligible to play basketball, and many of his team’s victories in that championship season might have to be forfeited, according to University Interscholastic League standards.
Similar irregularities recently uncovered by News 8 concerning fellow player Kendrake Johnigan has already led to the forfeiture of South Oak Cliff's 2006 state crown.
Former South Oak Cliff math teacher Winford Ashmore said Arthur had a history of trouble in math. He showed us his 2002 grade book for freshman math in which Arthur was making weekly failing grades: 45, 25 and 24.
Ashmore said then-principal Donald Moten, and current head basketball coach James Mays Jr., both asked him to bypass the rules and award Arthur a passing grade.
"Darrell was still failing, and was not making much of an effort in class, and was not coming to tutoring,” Ashmore said. “So at that point I ensured Moten — as well as James Mays Jr. — that Darrell Arthur was going to get an F for the six weeks."
Days later, without teacher approval, Arthur was dropped from Ashmore's class. And despite those low grades, transcripts reflect Arthur received a passing grade of 70.
In the Spring of 2003, school records show Arthur failed math again with a 64. But those records also show that in January of 2005 — two years later — Principal Moten signed off on changing that failing grade to a passing grade of 72.
The reason given for the grade change, according to records: "Teacher bubbled (the grade) incorrectly."
But district policy states: "Errors in student grades must be corrected within ten days after the grading period ends."
Principal Donald Moten is no longer with the Dallas ISD. He resigned following the News 8 — and subsequent internal DISD — investigation into grade-changing during the 2006 championship season.
District officials said Coach Mays' actions are still being examined. Ashmore said a thorough investigation will reveal the truth. "Coach Mays has full knowledge of what's going on as it relates to kids being changed out of classes," said Ashmore.
Ashmore says the grade-changing for athletes was improper, and calls into question more than just the winning of a state championship trophy.
“Since Darrell Arthur really did not pass algebra — which means he did not clear the clearing house — that also means that he really should not have been eligible for a Division I major college scholarship," Ashmore said.
Last month, Arthur helped lead the Kansas Jayhawks to the NCAA college basketball championship. He recently decided to leave college and turn pro.
So did the possible cheating by adults pay off?
Not according to Jeff Sullivan, a DISD teacher and coach who has seen our stories and believes the only one being cheated is the child.
“Taking the student out of class who is already borderline is just hurting them worse,” Sullivan said. “In the end, it makes sure that they don't have to make the work up, and then changing the grade is hurting them twice as bad."
Both Moten and Coach Mays have declined to comment for this story. DISD officials have also declined to comment, but say these allegations are being fully investigated.
What is unclear at this time is how this will be handled by the University of Kansas and the NCAA.
NCAA officials have confirmed to News 8 that if a player is ineligible, forfeiture of any or all games involving that student is a possible consequence..
E-mail bshipp@wfaa.com