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School cheating scandal shakes up Atlanta
A Fulton County grand jury indicted 35 Atlanta educators, including former Superintendent Beverly Hall, in what prosecutors call a huge cheating conspiracy stretching to 58 schools.
The school system indictments — which featured the unprecedented spectacle of black educators, traditionally among the most respected figures in their community, taking a "perp walk" on the evening news — exposed the racial fault lines in the city known as the Black Mecca.ATLANTA — As dozens of educators indicted in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal prepare for the next phase of the legal process, some area African Americans view the indictments as overkill.
"The community is saying this is wrong. We're treating these educators like they're criminals, like they're drug dealers, like they're gangsters," said Timothy McDonald III, pastor of First Iconium Baptist Church and a member of Atlanta's Concerned Black Clergy. "Yes, fire the ones who cheated, but this is overreaching."
On March 29, a Fulton County grand jury indicted 35 Atlanta educators, including former superintendent Beverly Hall, in what prosecutors call a huge cheating conspiracy stretching to 58 schools. The administrators, principals, teachers and even a school secretary face charges of racketeering, conspiracy and making false statements. Hall, who retired days before the 2011 release of a state cheating probe, also faces theft charges, because her salary rose with rising student test scores on standardized tests.
READ MORE: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/13/atlanta-school-cheatring-race/2079327/
Larry Copeland, USA TODAY
10:12 p.m. EDT April 14, 2013
A Fulton County grand jury indicted 35 Atlanta educators, including former Superintendent Beverly Hall, in what prosecutors call a huge cheating conspiracy stretching to 58 schools.
The school system indictments — which featured the unprecedented spectacle of black educators, traditionally among the most respected figures in their community, taking a "perp walk" on the evening news — exposed the racial fault lines in the city known as the Black Mecca.ATLANTA — As dozens of educators indicted in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal prepare for the next phase of the legal process, some area African Americans view the indictments as overkill.
"The community is saying this is wrong. We're treating these educators like they're criminals, like they're drug dealers, like they're gangsters," said Timothy McDonald III, pastor of First Iconium Baptist Church and a member of Atlanta's Concerned Black Clergy. "Yes, fire the ones who cheated, but this is overreaching."
On March 29, a Fulton County grand jury indicted 35 Atlanta educators, including former superintendent Beverly Hall, in what prosecutors call a huge cheating conspiracy stretching to 58 schools. The administrators, principals, teachers and even a school secretary face charges of racketeering, conspiracy and making false statements. Hall, who retired days before the 2011 release of a state cheating probe, also faces theft charges, because her salary rose with rising student test scores on standardized tests.
READ MORE: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/13/atlanta-school-cheatring-race/2079327/