Charges dropped against Robert Small, Maryland parent who spoke out against Common Core, but arrest defended
All charges against Robert Small have been dropped, the Baltimore County state attorney confirmed to the press.
In a statement, the state attorney’s office said the police officer acted appropriately in making the arrest but that further prosecution would not accomplish anything, the Baltimore Sun reported.
“It was clear that Mr. Small violated the rules of the meeting and disrupted the meeting. It was also clear that the officer acted appropriately and did have probable cause to make an arrest on both charges,” the state’s attorney’s office said in a statement. “In the interest of justice, further prosecution will not accomplish anything more. Therefore, the charges have been dismissed.”
Small was forcibly removed from the public forum in Towson, Md., and charged with second degree assault of a police officer and disturbing a school operation. If convicted, he faced more than 10 years in jail.
State Del. Patrick L. McDonough characterized as “outrageous” the failure of education officials to give Small a chance to speak. The Baltimore County Republican plans to introduce legislation that would put a moratorium on the implementation of the Common Core standards in the county’s schools. Del. Ron George, a Republican candidate for governor, said Monday he wants address the common core standards in the next General Assembly session.
“I think education is best handled at the local community level,” McDonough said.
Maryland was one of 45 states and the District of Columbia to adopt the Common Core standards, which were written collectively by the National Governors Association and the association of chief state school officers.
The Common Core is not a federal requirement, but the Obama administration offered financial incentives to states that implemented the standards.
[…] UPDATE: Charges dropped, but arrest defended – read the new story here […]