Posted on 05/19/2002 5:20:46 PM PDT by Vigilantcitizen
David and Terry Knight once lived a normal middle-class life in Lawrenceville. Two of their children attended Grayson Elementary, two attended McConnell Middle and one was in South Gwinnett High School.
In 1999, as the Gwinnett County school district prepared to implement its own specially designed standardized test, the Knights got involved, as good citizens should. In their case, they joined the Concerned Parents of Gwinnett, which opposed the Gateway test.
CPOG quickly became a thorn in the side of the Gwinnett school board and its superintendent, J. Alvin Wilbanks. Wilbanks in particular seemed intent on using Gateway to establish himself as a leader in the nationwide standardized testing movement, and he didn't take kindly to parents who dared question either his wisdom or his test.
In April 2000, things escalated sharply after a copy of the test was stolen and mailed to the news media. The school district's own police force, which reports to Superintendent Wilbanks, launched a criminal investigation. Terry Knight and other members of CPOG became its chief suspects.
The usual duty of school police -- or "resource officers," as they're called -- is to protect children and teachers, to guard against drug use and to counsel students. They are hired for their ability to communicate and negotiate, to be the good cop, not a bully with a badge.
However, they are also certified police, with full powers to seek warrants, subpoena records and arrest suspects. And in their investigation of the Gateway test, Gwinnett school police misused those powers in ways that raise serious questions about their competence.
Even more chilling, their behavior raises the specter of a police force being used as a tool of political intimidation.
The officer in charge of the case was undoubtedly an intimidator. Jim Keinard talked freely of sending a lot of people -- mainly CPOG members -- to jail. According to interviews with several CPOG members whom he interrogated, Keinard claimed to have ironclad evidence against "suspects" that two years later he has yet to produce. He warned that families could be destroyed, and careers ruined.
When Keinard interrogated Terry Knight and her husband, the Knights tape-recorded the session. In the recording, Knight is told repeatedly of evidence that placed her in the middle of the theft ring. She is told that fellow parents in CPOG were going to jail, and if she didn't cooperate, she would go to jail as well.
In the ultimate threat to a mother, Keinard tells Knight more than once that if she doesn't cooperate, her children could be taken from her. Knight responds, as she does throughout the tape, by saying she knows nothing about the theft.
Suddenly, near the end of the tape, things take on a tragicomic air. Keinard, it now appears, may have gotten a little mixed up. It seems he has threatened, badgered and intimidated the wrong "Terry."
Dennis Foster, Gwinnett's director of school safety and thus Keinard's boss, was present at that botched interrogation, but he will not comment on what happened. He doesn't remember whether Keinard had performed well or crossed the line, nor does he remember if there turned out to be another "Terry."
He does say, however, that he felt no pressure on the case from the superintendent.
Foster and his 16 school resource officers certainly have a big job. They provide security and protection for 82 elementary, middle and high schools, a far-flung "city" comprising 117,000 students and 14,000-plus employees. So it seems odd to have added a two-year, multistate investigation to that workload when other police agencies could have handled the task.
In addition, if Foster and his officers ever find a real suspect, they would face troubling questions in court about the independence of their investigation. During trial, defense attorneys would get to question their motives, and a jury could be presented with reasons why a politically motivated investigation came to the conclusion it did.
Danny Porter, the Gwinnett County district attorney, says that if asked, his office would be willing to take on the Mystery of the Stolen Test. "We're better equipped to handle complex criminal investigations than a school resource officer," Porter notes.
And while Porter would not comment directly on how the Gateway case has been handled, he did offer a more general observation:
"In 20 years of law enforcement, I have found that except in the most extreme circumstances, people don't respond well to threats."
Today, David and Terry Knight no longer reside in Lawrenceville. They fled Gwinnett County because they were afraid of the school police, and now live in Enola, Pa., where David's employer agreed to transfer him. They say they felt that Keinard had lied to them, and if the police will lie, what else might they do?
Meanwhile, Wilbanks has been appointed to a committee to draft federal regulations for state standards and testing, the only district school superintendent in the country given that honor.
"If it is like the majority of standardized tests developed in this country, just the opposit is true: most of the questions would have been objective, multiple choice questions, with a few essay or short answer items."
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Two schools in "underprivileged" areas of Baltimore were afforded the "Calvert Curriculum" {A home school program used for a hundred years by ambassadors and soldiers in foreign countries to teach their children who routinely excelled above excellence} in the setting of "those who were 'qualified' to teach." {The Public Schools}. The children, on California "standardized" tests excelled. One school, The Carter G. Whitson{?} elementary School, scored 35 points above the "national average". But, When Nancy Grasick's M.S.P.A.P. test was administered, the children of BOTH schools "scored down next to the Bottom of Baltimore City Schools {Among the lowest in the country} in testing.
Now, this "performance" test is given in order for the State to make "recommendations" as to where the students might better be placed in order to "better place the students for a more productive future." Is there A-N-Y___B-O-D-Y out there who has ANY doubt as to where the state has PREdetermined that these "disadvantaged" {95% and better black students who recieve 'federal subsidies for breakfast and lunch", which is the criteria for the "disadvantaged" classification} WILL be placed for "their" "productive" future??? A-N-Y___B-O-D-Y??????
By LARRY HARTSTEIN and ANDREA JONES Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
John Spink / AJC
Simonton Elementary students brought cards, letters and flowers to school today in tribute to their late principal, Betty Robinson. The tributes, placed on pink paper near the Lawrenceville school's entrance, will be delivered to Robinson's family later today.
Robinson, 56, was found dead in her office early Thursday after committing suicide.
A crisis team of counselors, school psychologists and social workers remained at Simonton today. Counseling will be available to students and teachers for "as long as necessary," Gwinnett schools spokeswoman Sloan Roach said.
There is no timetable for naming a replacement for Robinson, the school's only principal since it opened in 1993, Roach said. Simonton's three assistant principals "will team together to provide leadership until a new principal is named," Roach said.
Fourth-grade Gateway tests that were postponed because of Robinson's death have been rescheduled for April 23, Roach said. On Thursday, 376 of Simonton's 1,629 students were absent. Today, 176 students were absent.
The medical examiner's office ruled Robinson's death a suicide. Gwinnett police said there was no note.
Only hours before she took her life, Robinson, 56, had been to a principals meeting in which improving school performance was discussed. Simonton Elementary -- which Robinson opened as principal in 1993 -- was one of four Gwinnett schools -- and 436 statewide -- recently singled out by the state as low-performing.
Police said initial reports indicated that Robinson, described as intensely devoted to education and her school, might have been distraught over the school's ranking. But Gwinnett County Schools spokeswoman Berney Kirkland said it would be "inappropriate and irresponsible" to draw conclusions.
Principal Betty Robinson
"No one knows why it happened," Kirkland said.
Lilburn Middle School Principal Berry Simmons, who was at the meeting and whose school also is on the needs -improvement list, said being one of the singled-out schools "adds a little extra pressure."
"But I think we were all thinking, 'How do we attack the problems? And how can we improve?' " Simmons said.
Officials gently told students of Robinson's passing on the school's closed-circuit TV during Thursday morning announcements. Suicide was not mentioned, but older students who knew the circumstances were encouraged to put their feelings down in their journals and in poems.
"We spent the day talking about it," said fifth-grader Chaz Brownlee, who described Robinson as even-handed.
"If you got in trouble, she wouldn't yell or anything," he said. "She would talk to the kids."
Police found Robinson's body about 2:30 a.m. Thursday after her husband, James L. Robinson, contacted police to report that she hadn't returned home Wednesday night.
Robinson first drove by the school looking for his wife but did not see her car, Gwinnett police Cpl. Ray Dunlap said.
Betty Robinson had seen the school, which has 1,600 students, through major growth and changes, Ford said.
Simonton is classified as a Title I school, meaning it receives federal funds based on its high percentage of low-income students.
"When we opened the school, all of the students fit inside the building," Ford said. "Now we've got an addition and lots of trailers."
Robinson worked in Gwinnett schools for 23 years and moved to Simonton from Lilburn's R.D. Head Elementary -- a Georgia and National School of Excellence during her tenure.
Stripling Elementary School Principal Jane Robertson, a longtime friend, said she and Robinson often discussed the added challenges of educating low-income students.
"She was not someone to try to make an excuse," Robertson said. "She was going to dig in her heels and figure it out."
School Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks talked briefly about Robinson's death at the monthly school board work session Thursday afternoon.
"We're not sure of all the details at this point," he said. He described Robinson as a "gracious lady" and dedicated educator.
Her family issued a statement Thursday night describing Robinson as a loving mother and wife who always looked out for the well-being of others.
"We're all better individuals for having been with her," the statement read.
Her family said Robinson had lovingly taken care of one of her two daughters during a bone marrow transplant.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by daughters Brittany Robinson of Savannah and Leah Ragsdale of Alpharetta; her mother, Jane M. Cummings of Snellville; and one sister, Mary Alice Holcombe of Snellville.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Aplastic Anemia Foundation of America, P.O. Box 613, Annapolis, Md., 21404, or tests for the National Marrow Donor Registry may be arranged through the American Red Cross.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Snellville United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Eternal Hills Memory Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. today at Tom M. Wages Funeral Service Inc. in Snellville.
A native of Winfield, Ala., she was graduated from Huntington College in Montgomery. She received her master's degree from Mercer University in Atlanta and her specialist degree from the University of Georgia.
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I apologize for using the Atlanta-Journal Constitution as a source but this story does illustrate how the Gateway tests have got Gwinnett county pretty wound up. Now, it has a body count.
jriemer
Of course, in a State that is hell bent on having a Royal Kennedy or a boy king as its next Governor, my chances are vanishingly small. 'Pod
Sauro, The above is WELL said. You oughta go for it. You have the demeanor and apperance to make a GOOD governor. You got my vote. Peace and love, George.
this is true
Actually, before the new Dog river resevoir was built, we (Douglas co.) got our water from several sources, one being Bear creek resevoir(built in the 50's) which is located in the southern part of the county near the new Bear creek golf club.
I have refrained from commenting untill some replies were posted, but IMHO :
I think it is a sad commentary upon our society, that we as a nation, being the most prosperous and powerful country in the world, have allowed our educational system to decay to the point that we need armed police in our schools.
That being said, part of the blame also rests with the government methodically turning our schools into socialist indoctrination training centers.
We pay good money for the schools to teach our children English composition, Algebra, History, Civics, Etc...
Instead, they teach our children about alternative lifestyles, Islam, sex, Godlessness, and that big brother is fully in charge.
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