By John R. Alston Trotter, EdD, JD

Look at the MACE website (www.theteachersadvocate.com) and see how many times that MACE has called DeKalb a "Gangsta school system." When all other groups were quiet as church mice, we were calling this system a "Gangsta school system" on TV, print media, internet, and on our website. We called out the bullying, cheating, and lack of discipline on a regular basis. Admittedly, we were behind the curve on the construction contracts and "gasolinegate" because we were not privy to certain information. The nepotism, the shutting down of a State-mandated grievance because the teacher was about to testify about systematic cheating at Clarkston High School, the abysmal and abject lack of discipline in the schools, etc., have been discussed at length not only on MACE's website, the AJC's Get Schooled blog, and other media. Finally, Gwen Keyes's office has acted swiftly and she deserves the credit. I think that only the tip of the iceberg has been seen of the extent of the corruption not only in the DeKalb County School System, but also in the Dekalb County Government. (c) MACE, February 25, 2010.