Commenters on the AJC Get Schooled blog had a range of reactions to the postponement to August of former APS Superintendent Beverly Hall’s trial in the testing cheating scandal because she is battling terminal cancer, and to the plea on her behalf from former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young. During last week’s hearing, Young told the judge it would be “merciful” to drop the prosecution of Hall in view of her illness. Here is what readers had to say:
Outdated: I think Young made a grave mistake by wading into this morass. If she is too ill to stand trial right now, then a few months' delay as fine, as long as justice is served. But for the courts to show mercy is not appropriate. The city of Atlanta, its students and its parents deserve their day in court and, for what Dr. Hall allegedly orchestrated, she deserves to stand trial. Young's comments were irresponsible and, frankly, insensitive.
Edu: Time to remind ourselves that Beverly Hall's on trial so we can get at the truth of what happened and thereby help prevent kids elsewhere from becoming victims. The harm done to those young learners won't pass with her.
Pod: Shut up, Andy Young. God will judge her, too, but the taxpayers of this state are owed justice. She is healthy enough to sit in a chair at the defendant's table.
Coolray: Of course, Dr. Hall could end this tomorrow by pleading guilty. No matter what, the cheating and resulting harm to a generation of APS students can't be denied, and Hall was in charge of the Titanic when it sank. She accepted the glory and the money that accompanied it and now wants to escape any responsibility.
Skeet: I don't condone the actions of Hall and all the other participants. However, all the rage-and-blood-seeking people need to take your anger to Washington. Until you understand and acknowledge the root of this mess, you are just being contrary for the sake of being contrary. I bet most go to church every Sunday and Wednesday night and call themselves God-fearing Christians. At least Andrew Young tries to show some Christian-like character.
Jerry: I've watched two close relatives — one, my father — suffer many years with the most evil of terminal cancers. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. But many, many thousands of kids have suffered, perhaps with their lives. They deserve some sort of justice, if not redemption, so that this evil might not pass this way again soon.
Point: So much for innocent until proven guilty. However, everybody in Atlanta has already judged her guilty. She has stage IV terminal cancer and is undergoing treatment. I don't need Ms. Hall to go to jail — just make restitution and forgo collecting her teachers retirement.
Belinda: I do feel compassion for Beverly Hall and the (useless) treatment she is going through. However, she needs to be held accountable for what she did. She controls the process at this point, and she can do the right thing, but she never will. Andy Young? Irrelevant years ago. The students affected by her leadership could be ruined for life from lack of a decent education, perpetuating a seemingly endless cycle of citizens who choose not to become educated.
